Tag: Citizens United

Hawai’i Has The Right Idea

Since those political hacks we called the supreme court made it possible for corporations to have more clout than the people of this nation the money has been pouring into the super PACs making our elections more about who can draw the most donors than the policies that help the population.

Now the state of Hawai’i is trying to do something about this miscarruage of our system…..

The state of Hawaii has passed a law that poses a direct challenge to the infamous 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, which opened the door to unlimited corporate spending in US elections.

Democratic Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Thursday signed into law a bill that takes aim at the court’s ruling that corporations are effectively people with full free speech rights who can face no limits on what they can contribute to political organizations.

As explained by More Perfect Union, the law, which is set to take effect next July, classifies corporations as “artificial persons” who do not have a constitutional right to make political donations.

“The bill could limit the influence of super PACs,” noted More Perfect Union, “and be a model to challenge the influence of money in politics.”

Democratic Hawaii state Sen. Jarrett Keohokalole, a supporter of the law, said on Thursday he was proud that Hawaii has become “the first state in the nation” to take direct action challenging Citizens United.

“As elected leaders, we do not serve artificial entities,” Keohokalole said. “We serve the people.”

US Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, hailed the law as “big news” that should inspire opponents of limitless corporate political spending across the US.

“The far-right Supreme Court hijacked the Constitution to let corporations spend in our elections,” said Casar. “But we are not powerless. We can fight back.”

The new law passed despite opposition from Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez, who argued that defending it in court could be difficult and expensive.

The law’s passage earned praise from campaign finance watchdogs who have long called for overturning Citizens United and reestablishing guardrails for corporate cash in US democracy.

https://www.commondreams.org/news/citizens-united-law-hawaii

I say bully for them!

This is worth the fight no matter the cost.

Should be a template for all states.

The problem is if it goes to the supreme court those twats will strike it down….

The fight must go on.

Thoughts?

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

Democracy For All

There is a subjective issue.

Democracy means many things to many people….but for this post I will focus on returning the country into the hands of the voter and take the reins of government out of the hands of those high dollar donors.

This is about that infamous ruling by the Roberts court, Citizen United.

To end an era in which wealthy corporations have been given free rein to spend nearly unlimited money on political campaigns, Democrats in the U.S. House on Thursday proposed a constitutional amendment that would overturn the hugely consequential Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision by U.S. Supreme Court, saying the ruling “has dangerously eroded” the government’s ability to serve the public interest.

Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) led dozens of co-sponsors in introducing the Democracy for All Amendment two days before the 13th anniversary of the Citizens United decision, in which the court struck down a ban on corporate independent expenditures.

According to Schiff, the constitutional amendment—which the congressman first proposed in 2013—would:

  • Make clear the Constitution does not restrict the ability of Congress or the states to propose reasonable, viewpoint-neutral limitations on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections;
  • Distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities, including by prohibiting the latter from spending unlimited amounts of money to influence elections;
  • Allow states to enact public campaign financing systems, which can restrict the influence of corporate or private wealth; and
  • Take further steps to protect the freedom of the press in the case of future campaign finance-related legislation.

“It would affirm the right of the people to pass state and federal laws by restoring Congress’ and the states’ authority to place [limits] on political spending,” said the group.

In addition to overturning Citizens United, the Democrats aim to overturn the “fundamental flaws” and legal precedents that underpinned the court’s reasoning in 2010 and in “an entire line of cases dating back to the 1976 Buckley v. Valeo decision, which prevented meaningful regulation of campaign expenditures by corporations and special interest groups.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/overturn-citizens-united

A fine idea that I support.   But I also know that this will go nowhere since the GOP controls the House and they are deep in the pockets of the abusers of campaign finance policies.

I would tell you to contact your representative but that would be counter-productive…..for no one in DC is listening to what you think or want.

This is a fine idea.

I Read, I Write, You Know

“lego ergo scribo”

“Citizen United” On The Ropes?

Now that the impeachment debacle is over the House has returned to trying to do the work of the people…..

Most Americans know and despise the “Citizen United” ruling by the SCOTUS that gave corporations unlimited power in our elections. But now the House is finally trying to change that damage….

Most Americans agree on background checks for gun purchases, lower prescription drug prices, and the need to take on climate change. But for years, an army of lobbyists and unrestricted outside political spending by corporations have blocked nearly every attempt to make these things happen.

A big reason for this, argues Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN), is the the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, which he says has resulted in “the corrosion of our democracy.” The Supreme Court’s ruling notably allowed corporations to create super political action committees (PACs), which are not required to disclose their donors, and spend billions of dollars in US elections.

A growing number of Americans want to get money out of politics. Nearly seven in 10 Americans support a constitutional amendment that overturns Citizens United, according to a 2018 study by the University of Maryland School of Public Policy’s Program for Public Consultation. Now that almost 20 states and more than 800 local governments have called for a constitutional amendment that places reasonable limits on corporate campaign contributions, some members of Congress appear to be listening.

Congress (Finally) Considers Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

I like that idea…..but the House can pass all they want…it will be up to the Senate to come on board…..and I do not see that part of the Congress that is mostly controlled by corporations going against their masters.

In other House news……they have signed on to a pro-labor bill…..

Union leaders and labor rights advocates applauded the Democrat-controlled U.S. House for passing landmark legislation Thursday night that supporters have called one of the most notable efforts to expand workers’ rights in several decades.

House lawmakers voted mostly along party lines to approve the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act (H.R.2474), which passed 224–194 with 12 members not voting. See the roll call vote here.

“This is a watershed moment for the labor movement and shows what working people can accomplish when we come together to demand a voice on the job and a seat at the table,” said Lee Saunders, president of AFSCME, the nation’s largest trade union of public employees.

“Make no mistake, this is the most significant step Congress has taken to strengthen labor laws in the United States in 85 years and a win for workers everywhere,” said AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka, declaring the measure “the labor movement’s number one legislative priority this year.”

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/02/07/victory-workers-house-praised-passing-landmark-pro-act-strengthen-unions-and-labor

Another bill that will die a death in the Senate……

“The Senate where good bills go to die!”

Then there is a waning support for that abortion that Trump calls a “peace plan” for the Middle East…..

Over 100 House Democrats signed a letter, released on Friday, critical of President Donald Trump‘s peace plan for the Middle East.

The two-page letter, with seven pagers of signatures, was led by Rep. Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., and warns that a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine would be impossible under the plan. At a White House ceremony on Jan. 27 unveiling Trump’s 200-page peace plan, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to move forward on establishing additional settlements and exercising Israeli control of the disputed West Bank area.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/02/07/Over-100-House-Democrats-sign-letter-rejecting-Trumps-Middle-East-peace-plan/6031581102952/

I agree with these Reps but I need to add….their concern is way too late….the damage is being done…..

I Read, I Write, You KNow

“lego ergo scribo”