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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 18, 2015 08:54 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restoring Free and Fair Elections in the United States |
| In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation, House Resolution 539, which would urge Congress to enact a constitutional amendment to reverse the ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case by organizing for a Federal constitutional convention. The United States Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010), favored the very wealthy -- the top 1% of earners -- and diminished the ability of the remaining 99% to support candidates with modest contributions. This largely unpopular ruling threatens the average voters’ rights to be heard and assigns dollar amounts to free speech. In response to the widespread disapproval of the current 114th Congress, and the shared distaste for the Citizens United ruling, a new approach to righting this judicial error has gained support in our country. Article V of the United States Constitution allows for a constitutional convention to propose amendments to the Constitution upon application of two-thirds of the legislatures of the states. Also included in Article V is the three-fourths majority ratification clause that protects against runaway conventions. Pennsylvania should urge Congress to take action on this issue to bring the middle class into relevance in our nation’s political realm. We can help enforce the will of the majority by promulgating this resolution to restore influence to citizens of our Commonwealth. If you have any questions about this proposal, please contact Matt Hurlburt of my office at 787-8529 or mhurlbur@pahouse.net. Thank you Previous co-sponsors to House Resolution 539 : HARKINS, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MUNDY, O'BRIEN, PARKER, ROEBUCK, SCHLOSSBERG AND |
Introduced as HR374