Amid increasing calls for New York to pass bold Government Ethics Reform and Minimize the Role of Money in Elections, a Bipartisan Majority of State Lawmakers has taken a symbolic but somewhat significant step in calling for an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution Overturning the Supreme Court’s 2010 Decision in the Citizens United Case.
In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court ruled that Corporations and Unions can be considered Individuals as far as their Political Contributions are concerned and that Restricting their Ability to Donate to Candidates amounted to a Violation of their First Amendment Right of Free Speech. That Decision opened the floodgates to Unlimited Amounts of Money in Elections, including through Outside Groups Supportive of Candidates that must Not Coordinate with Official Campaigns but can Raise and Spend Unlimited Sums. Nearly 80% of Americans agree that the Decision needs to be Overturned.
Corporations and Unions are Not People. And further, Public Companies should Not be able to Political Contribute Stock Owners Value without their Approval.
Lawmakers and Advocates Announced that a Majority of Members had signed Letters to Congress calling for An amendment. The Declaration came after Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed Legislation to Blunt the Effects of Citizens United. In his Announcement, the Governor called the Decision of the Supreme Court’s Worst and said, “This decision ignited the equivalent of a campaign nuclear arms race and created a shadow industry in New York — maligning the integrity of the electoral process and drowning out the voice of the people. Citizens United must be reversed.”
New York, with a Republican-Controlled Chamber called for an Amendment, though only Two Republicans supported it. New York now joins other States which have done so through Resolutions and Ballot Initiatives. More than 700 Municipalities across the Country have also Passed Resolutions, including 21 in New York.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
