Changing the rules on political campaigns - contributions and expenditures
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US Corporate Supreme Court issues McCutcheon decision in blow to democracy
McCutcheon Ruling Requires Americans to Reclaim Democracy Statement of Robert Weissman, President of Public Citizen April 2, 2014 Contact: Angela Bradbery (202) 588-7741 Karilyn Gower (202) 588-7779 Note: Today, in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down limits on the aggregate amounts people can donate to candidates, political parties and political committees. Demonstrations that Public Citizen helped organize are scheduled to take place throughout the country in response. For more information, visit www.citizen.org/mccutcheon and www.moneyout-votersin.org. Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission strikes a devastating blow at the very foundation of our democracy. This is truly a decision establishing plutocrat rights. The Supreme Court today holds that the purported right of a few hundred superrich individuals to spend outrageously large sums on campaign contributions outweighs the national interest in political equality and a government free of corruption. In practical terms, the decision means that one individual can write a single check for $5.9 million to be spent by candidates, political parties and political committees. Even after Citizens United, this case is absolutely stunning. It is sure to go down as one of the worst decisions in the history of American jurisprudence. Until today, nobody could contribute more than $123,000 total in each two-year election cycle to political candidates and parties. Citizens United allowed Big Business to spend literally as much as it wants – predominantly in undisclosed contributions filtered through the likes of Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – distorting our elections. But Citizens United money can go only to outside groups. Now McCutcheon removes meaningful limits on the total amount an individual can directly contribute to candidates, political parties and political committees. Yes, you and I now have the “right” to spend as much as we want, too. But no regular person can compete with Charles and David Koch. There are literally only a few hundred people who can and will take advantage of this horrendous ruling. But those are exactly the people our elected officials will now be answering to. That is not democracy. It is plutocracy. Today’s reckless Supreme Court ruling threatens so many of the things we love about our country. No matter what five Supreme Court justices say, the First Amendment was never intended to provide a giant megaphone for the wealthiest to use to shout down the rest of us. Our only hope of overturning this McCutcheon travesty – along with Citizens United – is if millions of Americans band together in saying “Enough!” to plutocracy. We couldn’t face a starker choice: Accept rule by the few, based on wealth. Or join together to protect and reclaim our democracy – the notion that We, the People decide. Today, people across the nation will be responding with protests to this outrageous decision. We, the People insist that our government and our country remain of, by and for the people – all the people, not just those few who have amassed billions in wealth. A vibrant movement for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and reclaim our democracy has emerged since the 2010 issuance of that fateful decision. The demonstrations today – unprecedented as a same-day response to a Supreme Court decision – are just the latest manifestation of how that movement is now exploding across the country. We refuse to cede control of our country and our government to amoral multinationals and morally comprised plutocrats. |
Sen Sanders introduces "Democracy is for People" Amendment
March 12.2013. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a revised Democracy Is For People proposed constitutional amendment focused on overturning the Citizens United v FEC Supreme Court decision. The proposal was introduced into the House at the same time by Rep. Ted Deutch. This revised proposed amendment fixes at least the problem with the original in that it does not cover for-profit corporations only. This new language includes not-for-profits as well.
It does still have the problem of requiring that the amendment be passed by the states within 7 years. While we would hope that the states would do this within this time frame, the reality is that the Equal Rights Amendment was never enacted because it was one state short of that in the required 7 years.
The issue of corporate personhood is not addressed in this amendment either.
Read Sen Sanders statement.
Read the proposed amendment.
March 12.2013. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders introduced a revised Democracy Is For People proposed constitutional amendment focused on overturning the Citizens United v FEC Supreme Court decision. The proposal was introduced into the House at the same time by Rep. Ted Deutch. This revised proposed amendment fixes at least the problem with the original in that it does not cover for-profit corporations only. This new language includes not-for-profits as well.
It does still have the problem of requiring that the amendment be passed by the states within 7 years. While we would hope that the states would do this within this time frame, the reality is that the Equal Rights Amendment was never enacted because it was one state short of that in the required 7 years.
The issue of corporate personhood is not addressed in this amendment either.
Read Sen Sanders statement.
Read the proposed amendment.
Supreme Court to consider elimination of contribution limitations by individuals
On Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, the US Supreme Court agreed to review the challenge to individual limitations on campaign contributions imposed by McCain Feingold by accepting the case of McCutcheon v FEC. McCutcheon v FEC also challenges limitations on individual contributions to political parties and political action committees (PACs).
Read The Guardian article.
Read the United Liberty blog (explains some of the limitations and details of what is being challenged)
Read other stories/articles/blogs on this case.
7-26-13 - Brief filed by DEMOS, CWA, NAACP, America Federation of Teachers and more asking that Supreme Court not call this decision.
Read The Guardian article.
Read the United Liberty blog (explains some of the limitations and details of what is being challenged)
Read other stories/articles/blogs on this case.
7-26-13 - Brief filed by DEMOS, CWA, NAACP, America Federation of Teachers and more asking that Supreme Court not call this decision.
Outside Money Takes the Inside Track
The US Supreme Court's Citizens United decision changed how campaigns are financed. Public Citizen has issued their report, Outside Money Takes the Inside Track, to look at the changes and make recommendations on changes in law and the US Constitution to overcome the changes. Recommendations include passage of the DISCLOSE ACT and the SHAREHOLDER PROTECTION ACT.as well as a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
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