Petition Against Citizens United Decision Gains Steam

SIGN the Petition Against Citizens United!

Bernie Sanders Fights Political Corruption Head-on

Democracy, elections and voting at Democracy Chronicles

The infamous Citizen’s United decision from the US Supreme Court has found an enemy in Senator Bernie Sanders, the only independent in the US Senate.  He has proposed an amendment, regrettably having little chance to pass, that would reverse the Citizen’s United decision and change the US Constitution to prohibit corporations from spending money on elections. While the bill also has a bit more focus on corporations than we would like at Democracy Chronicles, it is definitely far superior than the current law.  Take a look at this excerpt below from Sanders’ website and give us your thoughts.  There is also a petition to sign that can be found at Sander’s website.  Enjoy:

Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed a constitutional amendment that would overturn the Supreme Court decision in a case called Citizens United vs. FEC. The Saving American Democracy Amendment states that: Corporations are not persons with constitutional rights equal to real people. Corporations are subject to regulation by the people. Corporations may not make campaign contributions or any election expenditures. Congress and states have the power to regulate campaign finances.

Also, the petition contains some interesting quotations from different influential people about the Citizen’s United decision.  Sadly, the list is only of Democratic Party voices.  Take a look:

President Barack Obama:

“With all due deference to separation of powers, last week the Supreme Court reversed a century of law that, I believe, will open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections.”

Justice John Paul Stevens:

“The conceit that corporations must be treated identically to natural persons in the political sphere is not only inaccurate but also inadequate to justify the Court¹s disposition of this case. “In the context of election to public office, the distinction between corporate and human speakers is significant. Although they make enormous contributions to our society, corporations are not actually members of it. They cannot vote or run for office. Because they may be managed and controlled by nonresidents, their interests may conflict in fundamental respects with the interests of eligible voters. “The majority¹s approach to corporate electioneering marks a dramatic break from our past. Congress has placed special limitations on campaign spending by corporations ever since the passage of the Tillman Act in 1907. “The Court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the Nation. The path it has taken to reach its outcome will, I fear, do damage to this institution.”

Russ Feingold:

“Citizens United was so extreme that unless we take action to stop it, America will return to the Gilded Age — on steroids.”

Sen. Chuck Schumer:

“We are not going to let this decision to go unchallenged…At a time when Americans are worried about special interests having too much influence, this decision opens up the floodgates and allows special interest money to overflow elections and undermine our democracy. “If there’s one thing that Americans from the left, right and center can all agree on, it’s that they don’t want more special interests in our politics.”