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Miles Archer

(18,837 posts)
Thu May 9, 2019, 08:40 AM May 2019

Adam Schiff introduces constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/08/politics/schiff-constitutional-amendment/index.html

Washington (CNN)Rep. Adam Schiff on Wednesday introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which helped usher in a new era of big money in American elections.

"Our democracy is not for sale. We must stop the flood of dark money from drowning out the voices of everyday citizens," the California Democrat said in a statement on Twitter. He said such an amendment would "restore power to the American people."

By a 5-4 ruling, the high court in 2010 swept aside a ban on independent spending by corporations and unions in candidate elections, saying the restrictions amounted to censorship. Outside spending in federal elections has soared from $338 million in 2008, the last presidential election before the ruling, to $1.4 billion in 2016, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.

Overturning the blockbuster ruling has become a rallying cry for many progressives in the Democratic Party, and other lawmakers have introduced a similar measure this year. But efforts to revise the Constitution have failed to gain traction. Two-thirds of the House and Senate must approve the change. Then, three-fourths of states must ratify it.
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Adam Schiff introduces constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United (Original Post) Miles Archer May 2019 OP
FINALLY! n/t Eyeball_Kid May 2019 #1
Schiff is one of our greatest Democrats! zentrum May 2019 #2
I agree completely. saidsimplesimon May 2019 #17
Sinema voted to confirm Barr. panader0 May 2019 #18
agree completely ConnieAZ1 May 2019 #22
Welcome to DU. panader0 May 2019 #24
Great news!!!! backtoblue May 2019 #3
Yes! Roy Rolling May 2019 #4
And the heart of the beast is "freedom for the rich only" DemocracyMouse May 2019 #15
Did he ask for any advice from Justice Alito? watoos May 2019 #5
Excellent! Owl May 2019 #6
Awesome! dhol82 May 2019 #7
bravo AllaN01Bear May 2019 #8
What one thing would most cripple the GOP criminal organization? Nt Ponietz May 2019 #9
Citizens United should have been called Corporations United patphil May 2019 #10
K&R...👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍 spanone May 2019 #11
THIS!!!! I didn't see this coming. Great news!!! Honeycombe8 May 2019 #12
I applaud Schiff and others who are taking this issue head on. It will be a long haul so it's KPN May 2019 #13
Ann Coulter will not be happy! czarjak May 2019 #14
This is GREAT! Thank You Adam Schiff! God Bless you, Adam Schiff! calimary May 2019 #16
YES!!! nt B Stieg May 2019 #19
THIS!! bluestarone May 2019 #20
YYYEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lindysalsagal May 2019 #21
+1000! mcar May 2019 #23

saidsimplesimon

(7,888 posts)
17. I agree completely.
Thu May 9, 2019, 10:56 AM
May 2019

I wish Sen. Sinema would stand up and be counted. Democrats in Arizona, donated time and treasure to elect her.

panader0

(25,816 posts)
18. Sinema voted to confirm Barr.
Thu May 9, 2019, 11:02 AM
May 2019

I sent her an email and got the standard "Thanks for your interest" reply.
District 2 here.

ConnieAZ1

(8 posts)
22. agree completely
Fri May 10, 2019, 05:45 PM
May 2019

not only did she vote to approve barr - after his 'testimony' she asked for a private meeting with him to discuss said 'testimony'. she got my vote under duress (ran a negative campaign against matt heinz), and has quickly been put on my joe manchin, heidi heitkamp list of do not trust a word they say...next week i start the phone calls.

DemocracyMouse

(2,275 posts)
15. And the heart of the beast is "freedom for the rich only"
Thu May 9, 2019, 10:33 AM
May 2019

Mark my words: the Rude-ugly-kins will claim this proposal (which is good and sound) is "freedom-killing." But Citizens United and its cousins represents freedom for sale. Freedom for the wealthiest. Getting rid of (Rich) Citizens United will return freedom to the people.

And BTW, we really should point out in the press (repeatedly!) that this is the proper title for the tumor spreading like a cancer in our country:

(RICH) CITIZENS UNITED

patphil

(6,169 posts)
10. Citizens United should have been called Corporations United
Thu May 9, 2019, 10:21 AM
May 2019

Since neither a corporation nor a union are living entities with voting rights, how can it be censorship to deny them the right to pump unlimited funds into elections.
This definitely has to be fixed.
Unfortunately, the chances that a constitutional amendment can be passed to do this are very low.
The process of adding an amendment to the Constitution is deliberately difficult to make sure that any amendments are widely accepted before they can become law.
It could take a decade or more to do this.

That said, I think it's a great idea, and should be initiated.
I wonder how many republicans will vote for this.

Patrick Phillips

Honeycombe8

(37,648 posts)
12. THIS!!!! I didn't see this coming. Great news!!!
Thu May 9, 2019, 10:25 AM
May 2019

Yeah, I know it can't be passed, with the current Senate makeup. But it's a start.

KPN

(15,642 posts)
13. I applaud Schiff and others who are taking this issue head on. It will be a long haul so it's
Thu May 9, 2019, 10:26 AM
May 2019

important to give overturning Citizens' United high and constant visibility. It won't be overturned soon, but railing about while doing nothing to actually change it only extends it's life further. We need to make it as conspicuous and present as the Rs made overturning the ACA. Eventually, David will topple Goliath.

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