Schiff introduces constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United

Rep. Adam Schiff Adam Bennett SchiffOn The Money: Stocks sink on Trump tariff threat | GOP caught off guard by new trade turmoil | Federal deficit grew 38 percent this fiscal year | Banks avoid taking position in Trump, Dem subpoena fight House Intel panel threatens 'compulsory' action to force DOJ to produce Mueller files Banks say they take no position in Trump lawsuit over congressional subpoenas MORE (D-Calif.) on Wednesday introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United ruling, which eliminated restrictions on corporate campaign spending.

The amendment would allow Congress and states to put limits on campaign contributions, according to a statement from Schiff's office.

"The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United overturned decades of legal precedent and has enabled billions in dark money to pour into our elections," Schiff said in a statement.

The amendment would also allow states to enact laws creating public financing of campaigns.

"Amending the Constitution is an extraordinary step, but it is the only way to safeguard our democratic process against the threat of unrestrained and anonymous spending by wealthy individuals and corporations," he added. "This amendment will restore power to everyday citizens."

Schiff also announced the amendment on Twitter.

"Our democracy is not for sale," he wrote. "We must stop the flood of dark money from drowning out the voices of everyday citizens."

Our democracy is not for sale. We must stop the flood of dark money from drowning out the voices of everyday citizens.

That's why I just introduced a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restore power to the American people. pic.twitter.com/YNYzb35uSf — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) May 8, 2019

The 5-4 Citizens United ruling prohibited the government from limiting spending by companies, nonprofit organizations and unions on political campaign advertisements. The majority argued that such provisions would inhibit freedom of speech.

IlluminatusUIUC on May 8th, 2019 at 16:21 UTC »

Why wouldn't they post the actual text?

Here it is, as far as I can tell from the House.gov link:

Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the states from imposing reasonable content-neutral limitations on private campaign contributions or independent election expenditures."

"Nor shall this Constitution prevent Congress or the states from enacting systems of public campaign financing, including those designed to restrict the influence of private wealth by offsetting campaign spending or independent expenditures with increased public funding."

Biptoslipdi on May 8th, 2019 at 16:15 UTC »

This is the prerequisite to returning American to a basic level of sanity. Until we can actually regulate the money in politics, it will continue to rule politics.

lobsterbash on May 8th, 2019 at 16:07 UTC »

BADLY NEEDED.

The amendment would allow Congress and states to put forth limits on campaign contributions, according to a statement from Schiff's office.

"The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United overturned decades of legal precedent and has enabled billions in dark money to pour into our elections," Schiff said in a statement.

The amendment would also allow states to enact laws creating public financing of campaigns.