Category: Democracy Amendments
Ralph Nader and Robert Weismann Make the Case Against Corporate Speech
The Case Against Corporate Speech
By Ralph Nader And Robert Weismann, the Wall Street Journal
Last month, by a vote of 5 to 4, the U.S. Supreme Court gave carte blanche to the world’s largest corporations to spend unlimited sums of money to support or oppose candidates for elected office. Big Business domination of Washington and state capitals will now intensify.
The case of Citizens United portends dire consequences for the nation’s constitutional premise of “we the people,” not we the corporations. Our constitution, at its origins and through all of its amendments, makes no mention of corporate entities, only human beings and their government.
For 120 years, it was not Congress but the Supreme Court that expanded the definition of “persons” to include for-profit corporations for the purposes of applying constitutional protections. For 30 years, the court has granted First Amendment speech protections to corporations as “artificial persons.”
Legislation Expected in Alaska on Monday
On Monday, both the Alaska House and Senate will introduce legislation affirming that corporations are not people FOR THE PURPOSES OF ELECTIONS. One of the sponsors is Hollis French, a long time legislator and gubernatorial candidate in Alaska’s next election. There are several sponsors on each bill at this point.
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Weak State Legislation Introduced in Iowa
Here are the details.
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Rally in Annapolis, Maryland
Free Speech for People, Not Corporations!
RALLY to Take Back Democracy!
Lawyer’s Mall, Annapolis (near Church Circle)
Monday, Feb. 22nd, 2010 6 – 7 PM
Democratic Party / White House Introduces Package of Halfway Measures
Here’s the Wall Street Journal and DailyKos.
This is the package of bills we’ve been expecting from Rep Van Hollen and Senator Schumer.
UPDATE: A blog by Schumer.
Rep. Kucinich Says He’s Working on Amendment to Address Both Citizens’ United and Buckley v Valeo
WA State Bill for Public Financing Advances
WA State Senate Introduces Resolution
Free Speech for People moves forward in Washington State
Rep Edwards Has Introduced Amendment
H.J.RES.74 Cosponsors are updated on Thomas.loc.gov here.
But we have them for you first: John Conyers, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jim McGovern, Keith Ellison, Chellie Pingree, Barbara Lee, Andre Carson, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Betty Sutton, Raul Grijalva and Ed Markey.