[Vision2020] New Constitutional Amendent

[Rosemary Huskey]

I think the point of the proposed amendment (which is limited to federal elections) is to level the playing field and disarm the mass of lobbyists who are making a mockery of fair play in elections.  (That is, our elected federal officials are often financially dependent on corporations for money to fund campaigns and thus are more likely to introduce and vote for legislation that is favorable to their corporate pals.)  Federal monies – given equally to candidates (there may well be differing amounts depending on whether the election is for the house, senate, or presidency) would eliminate the need for big buck sponsors since all opponents would have to stay within specific federally funded financial boundaries.  Apparently, there is ample statistical evidence to buttress the argument that more than 90% of the candidates who spent the most money win <http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=3850>  elections thus providing that big oil, banking, multinational corporations, etc. (thanks to the Citizens United Supreme Court decision) the ability and opportunity to have their own pet legislators.  IMO the present process makes it improbable that the votes of ordinary folks will ever impact future federal elections. 

Rose

 

From: Tom Hansen [mailto:thansen at moscow.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, September 27, 2011 2:55 PM
To: Rosemary Huskey
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] New Constitutional Amendent

 

Although I seriously agree with the intent of denying corporations the right to secretly donate to a candidate for federal office . . . and unless I am misreading the text of this bill . . . I do not agree that people should be denied the right to donate, privately or publicly.

Tom

 

 


On Sep 27, 2011, at 14:41, "Rosemary Huskey" <donaldrose at cpcinternet.com> wrote:

Dylan Ratigan is hoping to bring forward a petition new constitutional amendment to ban all private money, including corporation and foreign donors, from donating to all federal political positions.  The amendment is non-partisan and reads as follows

 

"No person, corporation or business entity of any type, domestic or foreign, shall be allowed to contribute money, directly or indirectly, to any candidate for Federal office or to contribute money on behalf of or opposed to any type of campaign for Federal office. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, campaign contributions to candidates for Federal office shall not constitute speech of any kind as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or any amendment to the U. S. Constitution. Congress shall set forth a federal holiday for the purposes of voting for candidates for Federal office."

 

To sign the petition, or to learn more please go to http://www.getmoneyout.com/

 

I am hopeful that the voice of thousands of citizens will help to bring this petition forward.

 

Rose Huskey

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