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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | October 17, 2013 08:53 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mark B. Cohen |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Restoring Free and Fair Elections in the US |
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 113th Congress, and the shared distaste for the Citizens United ruling, a new approach to righting this judicial error has gained support in our country. That approach is to pressure Congress to enact a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United case by organizing for a Federal constitutional convention. 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. Thus far 16 states have introduced similar resolutions criticizing the Citizens United decision and calling for a constitutional convention to reverse Citizens United, and Pennsylvania should join in this progressive effort which can once again 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 Kim Hileman of my office at 787-4117 or khileman@pahouse.net. Thank you |
Introduced as HR539