DEFEAT CITIZENS UNITED - CONTACT YOUR SENATORS

[marym625]

DEFEAT CITIZENS UNITED

We have to get money out of politics.

Contact your Senators to support the Constitutional Amendment that will overturn Citizens United. Vote is September 8, 2014 

Common Cause is the lead organization to get money out of politics. Contact your State Common Cause or go to their natural website. http://www.commoncause.org/ 


From the Common Cause Illinois Team 
  
Dear Common Cause Supporter, 

The United States Senate will vote on a constitutional amendment that will overturn the Citizens United decision, and ensure that our democracy is not sold to the highest bidder.  

Right now, 50 senators, including Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, support this amendment, but we need the support of more senators to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass this important piece of legislation. 

Given his record, we believe that Senator Mark Kirk can be persuaded to support this measure, but we need your help. 

There are two ways that you can get involved and stand up for your democracy. 

1) Attend the Senator Kirk Democracy For All rally, at his office in downtown Chicago, where we will deliver signatures in support of this amendment. The event is September 3 at noon.Please RSVP for the rally and learn more about the issues from our coalition.  

2) Call Senator Kirk at 202-224-2854 or email his office, and ask him to support this important piece of campaign finance reform legislation, S.J. Res. 19--the Democracy for All Amendment. 

Senator Kirk's vote would help start serious campaign finance reform. We need you to tell him that you support campaign finance reform and overturning Citizens United. 

You can learn more about Common Cause's work to combat the power of big money in politics on our website.  

Democracy is in your hands. 

Rey Lopez-Calderon 

and the Common Cause Illinois Team 

[merrily]

1. It would be a good start. However, there was plenty of money in politics, including from overseas,

before Citizens' United was decided. So, repealing CU alone is not going to get money out of politics.

I want to see it happen, but I don't want anyone to think that would be the be all and end all of getting money out of politics.

[marym625]

2. The Amendment

Would not just address CU. My headline is to, hopefully, draw attention to this. We need to get people to contact their Senators.

Here's the text of SJ RES 19

https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/19/text

[merrily]

3. It is not self-executing, though.

"Congress shall have the power to-----" does not mean Congress will.


Before CU, everyone, including Congress, thought Congress had the power to get money out of politics. It chose not to. All we got was McCain Feingold, which is voluntary.

[marym625]

4. What do you suggest? n/t

[merrily]

5. I already suggested it: Know that this is a good and necessary step, but do not be under

the illusion that it is the total fix.

[marym625]

6. Oh I have no illusion

This is a fix all. I just want there to be something to address this. The insanity that has been happening with the money in elections has to stop.

I realize you said you want this to happen. I just wanted to know what else you think we should do.

[merrily]

7. I used "you" in the sense of anyone, not you personally.

I just wanted to know what else you think we should do.

We could make some portion of the amendment self-executing, but the drafting would be complicated and it would probably never emerge from Congress. I have my doubts that even this will emerge from Congress. And, if it does emerge, I have my doubts about ratification. Hell, Republicans managed to put an amendment granting women equal rights in limbo for the past forty or so years. I don't think they are going to leave this one alone, assuming it ever makes it out of the Senate.

Still we should try because, unless the citizenry overrules Citizen's by a Constitutional amendment, there is no hope at all.

[marym625]

8. I agree

But I am hopelessly hopeful.

[merrily]

9. We can't give up. We need to look for ways to be more effective, tho.