-by: Mike Ludwig

February 15, 2012- Fifty organizations presented letters to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on Tuesday requesting hearings this year on the need to amend the Constitution to overturn Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that opened the floodgates for unlimited independent campaign spending and gave rise to the infamous Super PAC.

So far in the 112th Congress, lawmakers have introduced 13 constitutional amendment resolutions of varying scope, and dozens more have been introduced in state legislatures. Hearings in the Judiciary Committees would be the next step in moving Congress toward proposing an amendment.

The letter comes just weeks after 350 events, protests and teach-ins in communities across the country gave shape to a mass movement to overturn Citizens United.

"As activists have mobilized and protested across the country," the letter states, "it is time for Congress to explore in earnest the range of resolutions that have been introduced to undo the harmful effects of the court's decision."

The letter contends that Congress could mitigate effects of Citizens United with disclosure legislation, but only an amendment will allow the public to regulate corporate influence in elections.

In Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruled that independent spending on political speech by corporations and unions is protected under the First Amendment, making restrictions on that spending unconstitutional. Corporations often donate to front groups and Super PACs to conceal their political spending and support for specific candidates.

FULL STORY HERE:

By

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.