Rep. Deutch Introduces OCCUPIED Constitutional Amendment To Ban Corporate Money In Politics
By Zaid Jilani on Nov 18, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) is tackling corporate money in politics head on.
In one of the greatest signs yet that the 99 Percenters are having an impact, Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, today introduced an amendment that would ban corporate money in politics and end corporate personhood once and for all.
Deutch’s amendment, called the Outlawing Corporate Cash Undermining the Public Interest in our Elections and Democracy (OCCUPIED) Amendment, would overturn the Citizens United decision, re-establishing the right of Congress and the states to regulate campaign finance laws, and to effectively outlaw the ability of for-profit corporations to contribute to campaign spending.
“No matter how long protesters camp out across America, big banks will continue to pour money into shadow groups promoting candidates more likely to slash Medicaid for poor children than help families facing foreclosure,” said Deutch in a statement provided to ThinkProgress. “No matter how strongly Ohio families fight for basic fairness for workers, the Koch Brothers will continue to pour millions into campaigns aimed at protecting the wealthiest 1%. No matter how fed up seniors in South Florida are with an agenda that puts oil subsidies ahead of Social Security and Medicare, corporations will continue to fund massive publicity campaigns and malicious attack ads against the public interest. Americans of all stripes agree that for far too long, corporations have occupied Washington and drowned out the voices of the people. I introduced the OCCUPIED Amendment because the days of corporate control of our democracy. It is time to return the nation’s capital and our democracy to the people.”
Here is similar legislation drafted by Rep. Jim McGovern
http://mcgovern.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=15§iontree=168,15&item...
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern Introduces Constitutional Amendment to Restore 'People's Rights'; repeal Citizens United
Wednesday November 16, 2011
U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN INTRODUCES CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RESTORE ‘PEOPLE’S RIGHTS’
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern has introduced a Constitutional amendment in the House of Representatives to repeal the recent Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to restore the Founding Fathers’ intent to grant rights to people, not corporations.
The legislation, H.J. Res 88, is intended to “clarify the authority of Congress and the States to regulate corporations, limited liability companies or other corporate entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state.”
“As any high school civics student knows, the first three words of the preamble to the Constitution are ‘We the People,’ Rep. McGovern said. “Corporations are not people. They do not breathe. They do not have children. They do not die in war. They are artificial entities which we the people create and, as such, we govern them, not the other way around.”
“The Citizens United ruling,” McGovern continued, “marks the most extreme extension of a corporate rights doctrine which has eroded our First Amendment and our Constitution. Now is the time for a 28th Amendment that lifts up the promise of American self-government: of, for, and by the people.”
The Citizens United case effectively reversed decades of precedent recognizing the authority of the people to regulate corporate spending in our elections. But the consequences of the case are not just limited to campaign finance issues. The newfound “Corporate Rights” movement that seeks to give corporations the same rights as people in any situation has been making troubling gains.
Recently, a federal judge blocked the Food and Drug Administration blocked the Food and Drug Administration from requiring tobacco companies to place graphic warning labels on cigarette packages, arguing that cigarette makers had the right to free speech.
Rep. McGovern’s amendment also clearly protects the people’s rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion and freedom of association.
“We need to have a serious, thoughtful debate in this country about this important issue,” Rep. McGovern said. “I hope that my amendment will begin to spur that debate.”
The text of Rep. McGovern’s amendment is attached.