Senator Bernie Sander introduced an amendment overturning Citizens United. Credit: {a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/arbayne/5749266524/"}@Randy_Bayne{/a}
On Thursday, Senator Bernie Sanders, Independent of Vermont, proposed a Constitutional amendment that would exclude corporations from unlimited spending on political campaigns. It effectively overturns the part of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision that gives corporations the same rights to spend money on elections as people.
According to The Hill, Sanders’ amendment proposes that corporations do not have the same constitutional rights as people, that they are subject to regulation, that they cannot make campaign contributions, and that Congress has the power to regulate campaign finance:
“Make no mistake, the Citizens United ruling has radically changed the nature of our democracy, further tilting the balance of power toward the rich and the powerful at a time when already the wealthiest people in this country have never had it so good,” Sanders said.
“In my view, history will record that the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision is one of the worst decisions ever made by a Supreme Court in the history of our country.”
Sanders, who has been in Congress for two decades, previously serving as a congressman from Vermont, has never proposed an amendment before. His amendment is the Senate version of an amendment proposed by Rep. Ted Deutch in the House.
Read more:
The Hill: Sanders offers constitutional amendment to strip corporations of free speech
Bernie Sanders Senate website: Sanders Files ‘Saving American Democracy Amendment’
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