freespeechforpeople.org blogs

Senators Tester and Udall Introduce New Constitutional Amendments to Overturn Citizens United

Lindsay Van Dyke — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:31:17 +0000

Senator Tester's bill is first-ever in US Senate to make clear that constitutional rights are only for people, not corporations

WASHINGTON, DC. – Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) received praise from democracy advocates today for introducing a companion bill to Massachusetts Congressman Jim McGovern’s “People’s Rights Amendment.”

Senator Tester’s bill mirrors language in the House bill, H.J. Res 21, making it clear that corporations do not have constitutional rights as if they were people. The House bill enjoys bi-partisan support from Republican Rep. Walter Jones (NC-3), along with many other co-sponsors, including Democratic Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13), the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee.

Another, similar House-Senate pair of bills is also gaining support – H.J.Res. 20, also by Rep. McGovern (MA-2), and a bill re-introduced today by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), which would restore the authority of Congress and the states to limit campaign spending in elections. A previous introduction of the bill by Sen. Udall had 25 U.S. Senate co-sponsors.

"These two constitutional amendment bills are critical to reclaiming our democracy," said John Bonifaz, executive director of Free Speech For People, referring to the People’s Rights Amendment by Sen. Tester and Rep. McGovern, and the campaign spending amendment by Sen. Udall and Rep. McGovern. "We must reverse Citizens United and ensure that people, not corporations, govern in America and that the nation lives up to its fundamental promise of political equality for all.

“Senator Tester’s sponsorship of the People’s Rights Amendment and Senator Udall’s re-introduction of his amendment bill on campaign spending represent significant political developments for our movement,” Bonifaz continued. “They reflect the growing support across the country for overturning Citizens United and restoring democracy to the people.”

Last week, Free Speech For People issued a major report documenting more than 100 Republican officials across the country in support of a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United. The report can be found here: http://j.mp/AcrossTheAisle

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To download the press release, click here.

Read statements of support from local, state and national leaders.

Read our letter of support endorsing Senator Tester's amendment bill.

Read our letter of support endorsing Senator Udall's amendment bill.

Testimony of Jeff Clements & FSFP Concerning Hearing on “Food Safety, Nutrition and Labeling” and the Labeling of GMOs

Lindsay Van Dyke — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:43:51 +0000

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Free Speech For People Co-Founder and President, Jeff Clements, provided testimony to the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at the Joint Committee on Public Health Public Hearing.

Here is a brief excerpt below:

"Chairman Sanchez, Chairman Keenan and Members of the Committee:

Thank you for holding this important public hearing concerning food safety, nutrition and labeling. On behalf of Free Speech For People, I submit this testimony concerning the labeling of foods containing genetic engineering (GE) or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Free Speech For People joins the vast majority of Americans and almost every developed nation in the world in the view that all people have a right to know if their food contains GMOs. If food products sold in commerce contain GMOs, that fact should be disclosed to, rather than concealed from, people making food choices. While there are numerous issues and ample reason to require labeling of GMOs, this testimony contains two main points:

• The Constitution does not require that the American people be forced to consume genetically engineered food without their knowledge. Any decision by Massachusetts or other States to require GMO labeling is a policy decision, not a question of Constitutional rights of the corporations that create and market GMO food. Specifically, the values of First Amendment freedom of speech are furthered by disclosure rather than concealment, and GMO labeling laws are entirely consistent with the First Amendment.

• The Commonwealth has the power and responsibility to require GMO labeling, notwithstanding the failure of the federal Food & Drug Administration to do so. Interest of Free Speech For People Free Speech for People is a national, non-partisan campaign to overturn the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and to oppose the fabrication of corporate, rather than human, rights in our Constitution."

You can download the full testimony here.

Read our NEW report highlighting more than 100 Republican officials who support an amendment to overturn Citizens United!

Lindsay Van Dyke — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:30:01 +0000

Across the Aisle:

The Growing Trans-partisan Opposition to Citizens United

We’ve just released a new report highlighting more than 100 Republican officials who support a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, along with dozens more who have publicly criticized it. Read the full report here and help us by spreading the word.

Feel free to copy and share the graphics below on facebook, and send a tweet out to your followers. For other ways to get involved, click here and scroll down to read the press release about the report.

It is crucial to create awareness that overturning Citizens United is an issue all parties can stand behind.

Share this tweet:

NEW report #AcrossTheAisle by @FSFP shows 100+ Republicans support overturning Citizens United. Find out who: http://ow.ly/lODNu

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Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

More than 100 Republican Officials Helping Overturn Citizens United

FSFP Report Shows Substantial Trans-Partisan Support for
Amending US Constitution to Reverse Supreme Court Decision

Seattle, WA - With public frustration over a political system dominated by big money and corporations at an all-time high, a new report highlights Republican voices calling for genuine political reform. Released by Free Speech For People, a group advocating for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, this is the first compilation of Republican quotes and actions supporting this reform, demonstrating the growing trans-partisan movement to undo the damage Citizens United has done to our democracy.

The report is available at: http://j.mp/AcrossTheAisle

Peter Schurman, campaign director of Free Speech For People, said, “The voices demanding an end to the Citizens Unitedera of money over people are getting louder and more diverse, and they now include a significant number of Republican leaders who recognize democracy must mean government of, for, and by the people – all the people, not just the wealthy few, and not the corporations.”

Free Speech For People is pleased to present this compilation of more than 100 such Republican leaders, including both current and former, both federal and state, and both elected and appointed public officials.

More specifically, this compilation is comprised of:

111 Republicans who have called for an amendment to overturn Citizens United;

9 Republicans who have criticized Citizens United for its claim that corporations have constitutional rights; and:
10 more Republicans who have criticized Citizens United in more general terms.

The total to date is 130 Republican officials, prominent at the federal or state level, who oppose Citizens United.

From the report:

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ): “That's why we have different laws that govern corporations than govern individual citizens. And so to say that corporations are people, again, flies in the face of all the traditional Supreme Court decisions that we have made -- that have been made in the past.”
John Huntsman, former Governor of Utah and U.S. Ambassador to China: "The party has become a holding company for super PACs," he said, describing the Citizen's United [sic] Supreme Court case, which opened the door to unlimited, secret money in campaigns as disastrous.
Former Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): Sen. Snowe says the unleashing of their attack ads has been a disservice to the candidates and the voters because they've dampened discussion of real issues. That's why Snowe says she'd endorse a future effort to repeal Citizens United. "It's ridiculing our process, it's ridiculing, frankly, the common sense, practicality and intelligence of the American people," Snowe says. "They expect better, should get better, deserve better.”
U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, (NC-3): Co-sponsored H.J. Res. 21 (in the 113th Congress) and H.J. Res. 88 (in the 112th Congress), identical bills to amend the U.S. Constitution to make it clear that corporations do not have constitutional rights, as if they were people.

It is clear from this report and actions of bipartisan groups across the country that this issue goes far beyond party lines.

“This is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue, this is an issue for all Americans. The huge influx of money into politics does nothing for average Americans who believe in one person, one vote” said Former Montana Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger. “The Supreme Court’s actions in Citizens United and related cases have left us no choice but to pursue a congressional amendment. I’m pleased to see so many of my fellow Republicans voice their agreement in this report.”

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About Free Speech For People: Free Speech For People works to challenge the misuse of corporate power and restore republican democracy to the people. For more information, visit freespeechforpeople.org.

Contact:

Ryan O'Donnell
Communications Consultant
Free Speech For People
(413) 335 - 9824

Delaware’s General Assembly Members have signed a letter calling on Congress to pass an amendment reversing Citizens United!

Lindsay Van Dyke — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:24:23 +0000

A bipartisan majority of both houses of Delaware’s General Assembly Members have signed a letter calling on Congress to pass a constitutional amendment reversing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

You can read the letter from the DE General Assembly to Senator Thomas Carper in its entirety here: http://www.united4thepeople.org/images/DE.pdf

"How corporations hijacked the First Amendment" great read from New Republic

Lindsay Van Dyke — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 02:10:38 +0000

"The co-opting of the First Amendment has happened slowly, but not at all by accident. First, it was helped along by questionable court decisions. Today, it is being accelerated by a strange alliance between two groups: a new generation of conservative judges, who have repudiated the judicial restraint their forebears prized, and legendary liberal lawyers, like Floyd Abrams and Laurence Tribe, who, after building their reputations as defenders of free speech, are using their talents to deploy it as a tool of corporate deregulation."

Read more on how "corporations hijacked the First Amendment" in this excellent article from New Republic.

Jeff Clements Featured Speaker at MassVOTE Spring Fundraiser

Lindsay Van Dyke — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 22:16:36 +0000

On Wednesday, June 5th Jeff Clements, Free Speech for People co-founder and author of "Corporations Are Not People", will be the featured speaker at MassVOTE's annual spring fundraiser in Downtown Boston. Clements will be discussing how some of the largest corporations in the world organized to take over our government and Constitution, culminating in 2010 with the 5-4 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. Attend the event and support MassVote and their effots to get big money out of politics and push for free, fair, and open elections. For more details and to RSVP click here.

Chevron shareholders reject ban on political spending

Lindsay Van Dyke — Thu, 30 May 2013 21:59:52 +0000

An article from the Center for Public Integrity reports that Chevron Corp. shareholders recently rejected a resolution seeking to prohibit the company from using corporate funds for political activities. Chevron's statement reads: "Chevron’s participation in the political process is an important means of protecting the interests of the Company and its stockholders." Read the full story here.

The Other Scandal cited in The Nation: 'Primal Scream' for Reform: LA's 77 Percent Vote to Overturn 'Citizens United'

Lindsay Van Dyke — Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:39 +0000

In light of the tremendous victory in Los Angeles, where 77% of voters chose 'Yes' to overturn Citizens United, The Nation Magazine cites our "The Other Scandal" http://TheOtherScandal.com/ campaign with Common Cause as an effort to expand the discussion on the real issue behind the IRS scandal: the lack of rules and regulations governing money in politics. Click for the full story.

Join FSFP and Common Cause in Taking Action Against The Other Scandal: Citizens United

Lindsay Van Dyke — Wed, 22 May 2013 17:56:53 +0000

Everyone agrees that the IRS screwed up --- but as Chris Hayes of MSNBC makes clear in this video, the real, underlying problem is that the Citizens United decision took our system of fair-play rules that kept tax-exempt groups out of our elections and "blew it out of the water." Watch this video and join us together with Common Cause to demand that Congress focus on the core problem: Citizens United! Watch and share the video below: and take action at: http://TheOtherScandal.com/

What’s ‘Pro-Business’?

Lindsay Van Dyke — Sun, 19 May 2013 15:40:10 +0000

A new letter to the editor from our ally at the American Independent Business Alliance asks, "What's 'Pro' business" in light of a recent article from the New York Times that cites that the Citizens United ruling as benefiting American businesses.

It reads, "The companies cited as beneficiaries of recent rulings by the court — AT&T, Comcast and Wal-Mart — are huge corporations, and their policy interests have little in common with the concerns of most American businesses. So why repeatedly call those rulings “pro-business”?" See the letter by Jeff Milchen in its entirety here.