The movement against Citizens United is gaining strength. Already, 12 cities across North Carolina have passed resolutions opposing Citizens United. Now, the movement has a new voice in Congress.
On January 22, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) introduced two Constitutional Amendments to overturn Citizens United —see the video below. In his words: “Three years have passed since the Supreme Court’s dreadful Citizens United decision and we have seen a dramatic increase in the amount of corporate money flowing into our elections, drowning out the voices of ordinary American citizens eager to participate in the political process.” The first of McGovern’s two Amendments would empower Congress to regulate political spending.
McGovern also believes that Citizens United epitomizes the flawed idea that corporations deserve the same free speech rights as people. “Corporations are not people,” he says. “Corporations don’t breathe. They don’t have kids. They don’t die in wars… and the Constitution was never intended to give corporations the same rights as the American people.” So, the second of McGovern’s Amendments, known as The People’s Rights Amendment, would overturn Citizens United and clarify that “corporations are not people with Constitutional Rights.” Read the full text of the amendments here and here.
You can join the growing movement against Citizens United, by signing Democracy NC’s petition and asking your friends to do the same!
Leave A Comment