PRINTER'S NO. 1939
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
343
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, BAKER, ARGALL, MENSCH, STEFANO AND
MARTIN, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
A RESOLUTION
Supporting an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
to establish that election spending may be regulated to
ensure that every resident may exercise the rights to free
speech, political participation and meaningful
representation, and to protect Republican self-government and
federalism.
WHEREAS, We the People have a compelling interest in
fostering robust political debate and self-government, securing
the liberty and political equality of our residents, guarding
against corruption and advancing federalism and the interests of
the several states; and
WHEREAS, Over the past few decades, the Supreme Court has
gradually come to equate election spending with "free speech";
and
WHEREAS, This spending has the potential to drown out speech
rights for all residents, narrow debate, weaken federalism and
self-governance in the states and increase the risk of systemic
corruption; and
WHEREAS, The states and Congress should have the ability to
enact reasonable regulations regarding this spending; and
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WHEREAS, The framers wisely granted the states ultimate power
to amend our Constitution where necessary to make it and our
union ever more perfect and to protect and preserve self-
government and liberty; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
support an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
establish that election spending may be regulated to ensure that
every resident may exercise the rights to free speech, political
participation and meaningful representation, and to protect
Republican self-government and federalism; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the people of Pennsylvania hereby call upon
the United States Congress to propose and send to the states for
ratification a Constitutional amendment to clarify that states
may regulate the spending of money to influence elections in the
states and that Congress may regulate the spending of money to
influence Federal elections, and that in doing so the states and
Congress may distinguish between natural persons and legally
recognized entities; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared and
submitted to the Majority Leader of the United States Senate,
the Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of
the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader
of the United States House of Representatives and to each member
of Congress from Pennsylvania.
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