kong
04-21-2012, 05:12 AM
A Congressional Summit to Overturn Citizens United
by Jessica Pieklo
April 18, 2012
Advocates for an open and transparent government are on Capitol Hill today for a Congressional summit on the growing momentum for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision. All in all eight members of Congress are scheduled to appear and explain their support for the movement. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) convened the summit, joined by colleagues on the Senate and House side, including Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Reps. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), John Larson (D-Conn.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). “Today’s summit shows that a movement for a constitutional amendment to take back our democracy has gone from being considered a ‘pipe dream’ to the mainstream,” Public Citizen President Robert Weissman said. “The momentum generated at the local and state level country is building fast. We hope the commitments made here today spur even greater action from other members of Congress.” Activists from Maine, Maryland, New Mexico and Vermont will on be on hand and sharing how their communities have taken steps to push back against the unmitigated corporate influence in our elections.
“The stories shared by these local leaders show that in town after town, state after state, there is widespread concern about the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on our democracy – and are doing something about it,” said Mark Hays, coordinator of Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People campaign. “As more local and state efforts get under way, we expect to see even more victories for democracy this spring.” It’s clear the American public wants action on this issue. But so far neither the Supreme Court nor Congress has given any indication it plans to really remedy the damage from the decision. Which leaves the task to the rest of us.
by Jessica Pieklo
April 18, 2012
Advocates for an open and transparent government are on Capitol Hill today for a Congressional summit on the growing momentum for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United decision. All in all eight members of Congress are scheduled to appear and explain their support for the movement. U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.) convened the summit, joined by colleagues on the Senate and House side, including Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Reps. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), John Larson (D-Conn.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). “Today’s summit shows that a movement for a constitutional amendment to take back our democracy has gone from being considered a ‘pipe dream’ to the mainstream,” Public Citizen President Robert Weissman said. “The momentum generated at the local and state level country is building fast. We hope the commitments made here today spur even greater action from other members of Congress.” Activists from Maine, Maryland, New Mexico and Vermont will on be on hand and sharing how their communities have taken steps to push back against the unmitigated corporate influence in our elections.
“The stories shared by these local leaders show that in town after town, state after state, there is widespread concern about the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision on our democracy – and are doing something about it,” said Mark Hays, coordinator of Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People campaign. “As more local and state efforts get under way, we expect to see even more victories for democracy this spring.” It’s clear the American public wants action on this issue. But so far neither the Supreme Court nor Congress has given any indication it plans to really remedy the damage from the decision. Which leaves the task to the rest of us.