'A Big Deal': Lawmakers Reintroduce Constitutional Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

[SheltieLover]

Last edited Fri Jan 22, 2021, 10:38 AM - Edit history (3)

https://www.commondreams.org/news/2021/01/21/big-deal-lawmakers-reintroduce-constitutional-amendment-overturn-citizens-united

In a bid to reverse the outsize influence of corporations and the wealthiest Americans over the nation's electoral process, a bipartisan group of congressional lawmakers on Thursday reintroduced a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling.

"To ensure that our elections produce a democracy for all, we must overturn Citizens United and get big money out of our elections."
—Rep. Ted Deutch

The reintroduction of the Democracy for All Amendment in the 117th Congress—led by Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), John Katko (D-N.Y.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)—occurred on the 11th anniversary of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, a 5-4 ruling which affirmed that corporations are legal persons and that they, labor unions, and other outside groups could spend unlimited amounts of money to influence the outcome of U.S. elections.

More at link.

ON EDIT: Katlo is a Repuke. Thanks tp RikRoc & Celerity for pointing this out!

On edit: PLEASE READ #21 BY AMY STRANGE. THIS WAS NOT A COURT DECISION, BUT A HEADNOTE ADDED BY A CLERK!

3rd edit: link to AmyStrange's post, noted above.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214985741#post21

[katmondoo]

1. Good news!

[SheltieLover]

2. Ikr!

[Native]

3. Best news of the day! Thank you SheltieLover.

[SheltieLover]

5. I totally agree!

THIS will bring REAL change!!!

Repukes are going to flip out!

[sop]

4. As Joe would say, "It's a big f***ing deal."

[SheltieLover]

7. You bet!

I woner if any if them will vote for this?

[ananda]

6. Please, make it so!

!!!

[SheltieLover]

8. I hear you, Ananda!

This will bring change!

[theneworiginal]

9. The need 2/3'ds, right?

Not gonna happen. Probably one of the biggest Supreme Court scams of all times and we are stuck with it.

Fortunately, the money isn't carrying the day and elections have been won on merit. But it's harder. The RePukes game is changing or breaking the rules now. That's the only way they can beat the truth.

[SheltieLover]

11. Not sure on vote, but probably

Yes, the russian loving repuke scum is going to flip out.

[HariSeldon]

18. It's worse

It needs 2/3 of the House and Senate and ratification by 3/4 of the states.

This is why, if they were really serious, they would just pass a law saying corporations are not legally people as far as the rights enumerated in the Constitution are concerned. That conclusion was drawn by the SCOTUS, but it is not present in the Constitution in any clear way. Thus, an Act by Congress, signed into law by the President, is all it takes to tell SCOTUS "You were wrong on this one" in a legally binding way.

[Bluethroughu]

33. Awesome no enumeration no person!

Excellent point!

[AllyCat]

63. Ohhhh...did not know this.

Would be great to find a way to stop this.

[theneworiginal]

101. Wow. Great explanation.

I would not assume your congresspeople/senators know this.

It is all sizzle and no steak when Dems make a play for something doomed for failure. The corporate personhood bullshit is a direct hit to the democratic process. Dark money has corrupted the Supreme Court to the level of pay-to-play. All of the cash and carry politics have to be reversed. They are the keys to the kingdom.

[DeminPennswoods]

38. Yes, 2/3rds in both chambers

need to approve it. Then it goes to the states where 3/4s have to approve it. It's a high hurdle for a reason. Amending the Constitution is serious business.

[msfiddlestix]

10. Outstanding!

[SheltieLover]

13. Agreed!

[captain queeg]

12. That would be a huge step in our recovery

That decision has had the most direct impact of any for many decades, at least in my humble opinion. It’s one of those, that when you hear about it, you know it’s not going to work out very well. Depending on where you stand concerning democracy.

[SheltieLover]

14. I agree, Captain!

Dunno how many repukes will vote for it, but I am ever hopeful!

[Vivienne235729]

15. SO HAPPY to hear this!!

[SheltieLover]

16. Me too!!!

[RicROC]

17. Isn't John Katko a Republican?

[SheltieLover]

19. Yes!

Seemingly a decent one. Oxymoronic, I know.

[Celerity]

20. Yes, a rare moderate Rethug.

Rep. John Katko becomes first House Republican to back Trump impeachment

https://www.syracuse.com/politics/2021/01/rep-john-katko-becomes-first-house-republican-to-back-trump-impeachment.html

[SheltieLover]

23. Mind boggling that there is 1 among them!

Not sure why article refers to him as a Democratic lawmaker.

I will note in OP.

[SheltieLover]

26. Ty, Celerity!

I've updated OP to note this fact.

[Celerity]

57. yw

[calimary]

98. Sheesh - there's even a Republican on this? WOW!

A crack forms in the wall...

[SheltieLover]

25. I've updated OP to note this fact.

Ty!

[AmyStrange]

21. +100000000000000000000000000000000 x infinity

-

The original court decision that Corporations were people was wrong.

That wasn't even a judge's decision, but a headnote added on by a court clerk.

FROM: https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/history-corporate-personhood

As Thom Hartmann notes the Supreme Court embraced Conkling’s reading of the 14th Amendment in a headnote in 1886 in Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Rail Road: “Before argument, Mr. Chief Justice Waite said: ‘The Court does not wish to hear argument on the question whether the provision in the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution which forbids a state to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws applies to these corporations. We are all of opinion that it does.’” This was not part of the formal opinion. But the damage was done. Later cases uncritically cited the headnote as if it had been part of the case.

How do we know corporations aren't people? Because they can't vote in an election.
============

[SheltieLover]

24. Wow! Ty Amy!

Repuke scum will seize on any shred of anything to destroy our country, won't they?

I appreciate you sharing! This would make a great separate post, IMO!

Reminds me of the DOJ "memo" saying a sitting president cannot be indicted! Fucking infuriating!

[AmyStrange]

31. It is infuriating, and...

-

it's not even logical, because corporations can't vote in elections, and that proves that they're NOT people.
=============

[SheltieLover]

42. Well...

It's not as if repukes have ever wrapped their heads around 1 person, 1 vote.

On a side note, have you read "Squeeze Me," by Hiaasen? Guessing you have but, if not, I highly recommend!

It rips orange voldermort & repukes stem to stern in hilarious fashion!

[AmyStrange]

46. Putting it on my list right now...

-

got 16 books going right now, but I definitely appreciate the added suggestion.

Even though it also pisses me off, I like laughing at how STUPID repubs are, but THAT says a lot more about how BAT-SHIT CRAZY the ones who voted for them are, then about them.
==============

[SheltieLover]

55. Oh they are def stupid

I don't think it is easy for many to step put of our current epoch & look backwards. At least not aa easy as it is for many authors.

The hubris is... at a loss for words here.

Are you really reading 16 at once? 😱😳🤯

I inhale great reads in total immersion.

[AmyStrange]

58. Yes, it takes a couple paragraphs to get back into each one, but...

-

in a way, it's kind of a head rush to be swept into a whole 'nother world for a while, except for my book on psychological biology (bio-psychology). That takes a little more work to get into.
====================

[SheltieLover]

66. Psych biology is deep, for sure

I personally prefer works in art therapy: Pat B. Allen & Shaun McNiff are great. Speaks to the indigenous concept of the hollow bone theory.

And Jungian works are super: Juliet Sharman-Burke (Jungian analyst, astrologer, & cocreator of "The Mythic Tarot" deck), Sally Nichols, Marie Louise von Franz, etc., etc.

These greats add dimensions to beliefs, behaviors, in fact, meaning to life, imo.

Of course, Jung's "Memories, Dreams, & Reflections" is superb, as are all of his works!

[AmyStrange]

69. Synchronicity in all underlying memories, dreams, and perceptions was Jung's greatest...

-

contribution to psychology, in my opinion.

Even though I based most of my research in the unexplained on science ( i.e. UFOs, Bigfoot, ESP... ), I never discounted the fact that the science may be wrong.

Regardless of what some folks here say, science DOES NOT know everything.
===============

[SheltieLover]

71. Lack of evidence is not evidence of lack

Largely attributed to Sagan, I believe, but I seem to recall reading this in "The Dreaming Universe" by Fred Alan Wolf.

Doubters should take up the argument with Wolf, quantum physicist.

[AmyStrange]

72. Exactly

-

thank you.
============

[SheltieLover]

73. Yw!

Ty for the exhilirating conversation! (Is this what repuke's purpose is in the universe?)

[SheltieLover]

70. I'll bet!

Another couple you might find useful for character development:

The gift of dyslexia - talks about how many with dyslexia can, in their minds, set a problem on a table in their minds & walk around & look at it for resolution consideration from many angles. Although, I don't believe this is limited to persons with dyslexia. I've done this alk my life, but am not dyslexic.

"Look Me in the Eye," by John Elder Robison. He was the engineer who designed & implemented Pink Floyd Sound's special effects - pyrotechnics & light shows. Born with asperger's (no longer a diagnostic category since the publication of DSM-5, conveniently!), long before autism was known. Sort of like Evanovich's Emerson Knight in "Curious Minds."

[AmyStrange]

80. I have a slight case of dyslexia, but...

-

it's not full blown. When I look at a number, and then write it down, my brain ALWAYS switches the numbers around.

I also have a slight case of OCD. It's nothing serious, because I can leave the house, but first I do have to check all the doors and windows to make sure they're closed and locked... twice.

What's weird is my house is a mess, but if you look in the kitchen cabinets and shelves, everything is all neat, evenly spaced and facing the same way.

I'm a borderline nutcase with nothing in the DSM to cover it, but it does make life interesting.

I'll put that book by Robison on my list and thank you.
=============

[SheltieLover]

81. Have you read the Gift of Dyslexia?

Interesting!!!

All things, I believe, exist on a continuum. Which is why the DSM specifies the # of each diagnostic criteria that must be met for official diagnoses.

So people can have "traits" of a disorder or a full blown dx.

Your kitchen sounds amazing! Feel free to org mine anytime?

[AmyStrange]

84. Another book!

-

If we keep talking, I'll be reading another 16 books.
============

[SheltieLover]

88. Please read it to honor yourself!

Also, look into Irlen Syndrome.

Irlen is about how receptors in eyes pick up & refract light & how the brain processes it!

If you have a community college near you, you might be able to get a quick screening.

Corrective measures include different colored sheet overlays or tinted lenses.

Some states even pay for the glasses for Irlen!

[AmyStrange]

89. Ok, I'll do that, but...

-

please no more books, at least not until I get through the other ones anyway.
==============

[SheltieLover]

91. Wish I still had a copy, I'd send it to you

[AmyStrange]

94. I just downloaded it from the library, but...

-

thanks for the offer.
============

[SheltieLover]

95. Yaaaay!

Glad you have ut to read!

[thesquanderer]

99. Corporations are not people. Soylent green is people. (n/t)

[AmyStrange]

100. heh heh heh

-

but can they vote in an election?
=======

[Bluethroughu]

30. 100%!

We can't lock it up in a jail for criminal offense either!

[SheltieLover]

32. Isn't that convenient?

[AmyStrange]

35. Well said and thank you.

[lastlib]

62. I'll believe that a corporation is a person when Texas executes one!

[SheltieLover]

74. Excellent!!!!!

[SheltieLover]

47. Please see 2nd edit note in OP!

I just referred readers to your post, with thanks, for illumiation. Ty!!!

[AmyStrange]

49. YVW

-

It's easier to put a link rather than a post#:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214985741#post21
=============

[SheltieLover]

56. Ty!

I didn't realize links to individual posts worked that way. I thought just linked to thread. I will add it!

Ty!

[WinstonSmith4740]

51. The best response I've ever see to this issue.

I wish I knew who and where (might have been here) said this, but on the question of whether corporations were "people"?

"I'll believe that corporations are people when Florida executes one."

[AmyStrange]

54. Ok, that's both funny and sad...

-

Executing people is sad, but executing a corporation would be fun to watch.
=========

[SheltieLover]

76. Great insight!

Ty!

[ewagner]

75. Thank You!

I have been screaming about this for years...

the dirty trail to Citizens United began with Santa Clara County vs Southern Pacific RR. It was a dispute over states taxing RR personal property.

It went on to the 1972 Vajelo ruling that stated that "money was speech" and therefore could not be limited in campaign contributions

Those were the stepping stones to Citizen United.

Corporations are "people" only in the sense that they can sue and be sued for their actions. They are not "natural people" in any sense of the word. Any decision that purports otherwise is a corruption by ....(duh) corporate influence on the courts.

[AmyStrange]

77. Very well said, and thank YOU!

[czarjak]

22. Ann Coulter is gonna be pissed!

[SheltieLover]

27. Mose repukes will be.

[Bluethroughu]

29. Lol

[Tommymac]

40. Who?

[Bluethroughu]

28. Yeah!!!!! This will save our Country!!!!

[SheltieLover]

34. Yes, it will, Blue!!!

If I could have 1 change, this would be "it," because it cuts to the core of corruption!

[lindysalsagal]

36. That's my Speaker! She can do it!

[SheltieLover]

44. Yupers!!!

[LaMouffette]

37. Hooray! I'm looking forward to this and more legislation to right the wrongs of the last few decades

[SheltieLover]

48. Absolutely!

But this is HUGE!

[Cbus Girl]

39. Can't wait to hear the bullsh*t they will

come up with to argue against this.

[SheltieLover]

50. Get the hip boots

It's going to be deep.

[The Wielding Truth]

41. YES! This will do a lot to help correct election corruption!

[SheltieLover]

52. Absofuckingloutely!

[Wednesdays]

43. As pointed out above, it ain't gonna happen

Not as a Constitutional amendment, anyway. Need 2/3 of the Senate and 3/4 of the states. Pipe dream, especially in this political climate.

[SheltieLover]

53. Hope sprinys eternal

And, it will show the repuke scum up for what they are!

[SmartVoter22]

45. Might be easier to tweak other laws

and force the secretive money to be, ...less secretive.

Sure it will involve more court challenges, but if written well, legislation may provide some relief from the secret money in politics.

Here's my thoughts:

1) TAX LAWS: Rewrite disclosure laws, and require all donors over $1,000 to be identified & disclosed. Most donors are well under $1,000 the small donors would be protected, but most donations over $1,000 are coming from corporate entities, the CEO's trustees and major stockholders. These laws could also require any company, with or without stick, to disclose all donations, by providing the states with an additional federal tax credit if donations are made and used within the donor's home state.

2) CORPORATE/PERSONAL EXPENDITURES: This is where the secret money likes to spend, but also gets to hideout. Require any entity that pays taxes, to disclose any expenditures over $100 have extensive identification information. Name, Address, Person to contact, amount, when where and to whom. This would discourage donors, as it would not protect the secrecy, which is sued to hide who gave what to whom and for what reason.

3) VOTER REGISTRATION: On all voter registration applications and/or ballot distribution methods ( mail, in-person, absentee) require the applicant to disclose any contributions of any kind made in the last 10 years to any candidate, candidate's campaign, political party, non-profit (education 527) or entity that is registered federally, state or municipal as a lobby, lobbyist, 527, PAC for every possible venue money could be funneled into.

4) EMPLOYEE DISCLOSURE: Require any employer to disclose any and all donations under # 1 & 2 above to all employees, every quarter. Employees should know what they are producing may be funding an insurgency, a domestic terror group or a criminal organization that has a criminal record, of any kind.
This would also discourage donations for fear of public shaming of the disclosure.

We've seen lots of corporates' stopping all political donations in the light of Pres 45's extreme, and likely illegal activities. Citizens United may have been used in Trump/Proud Boys, etc funding of the insurrection and passing tax & FEC rules (527s) should completely guarantee that any donation, by any entity to any form of political activity be so squeaky clean that newly minted dollar bills would be considered suspect.

A Constitutional amendment is the best way to put a permanent end to something. I think Amendments, at this time, have far more important issues to consider than Citizen's United; Equal Rights Amendment, Public election funding and... maybe, a human rights amendment- requiring all levels of government to only use the term 'human being' in all bills, laws, ordinances, etc. This would eliminate any chance of gender, age, ethnic, racial or other 'classification' of bipedal and corporate personage to discriminate be pretty much over.

[SheltieLover]

60. Great ideas. Here's mine:

ZERO foreign money. Break this law & get automatic prison for LIFE, no parole.

No loopholes!

[SmartVoter22]

112. Harsh, but effective

that would certainly change some House floor votes on alot of issues.

It may bring in candidates who are dedicated to voting on the topic of the bill, instead of what leadership tells them.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

59. ACLU will fight against this.

They agree with the Citizens United decision on 1st ammendment grounds.

[SheltieLover]

61. There is no 1st Amendment right for non persons, imo.

That's the whole point.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

64. I agree.

[SheltieLover]

68. ...

Taken any other way, a wealthy person could give "voice" to rocks which, IMO, have FAR more integrity than repukes, & have each rock donate the max.

[lastlib]

65. The vote on this should be the litmus test for EVERY politician for EVERY office!

If they support it, good. If they oppose it, throw their worthless asses out!

[SheltieLover]

67. You have ny vote on this!!!

Simple: paptriot or traitor!

[W T F]

78. This will be difficult, but not impossible. We need to push hard for this.

[SheltieLover]

83. Absolutely!

[Kitchari]

79. K&R n/t

[SheltieLover]

85. Thx for kick!

This is so wonderful, I want everyone to know!

[Kitchari]

104. So important!

Thx for the OP

[SheltieLover]

105. It is critical! Root cause of a lot that we are seeing imo.

Yw! I was so excited to see this info, I couldn't post it quickly enough!

The American people are starving for Justice, with an intentionally capped "J."

[Kitchari]

108. Agree

[SheltieLover]

109. ...

[Nitram]

82. Yes!

[SheltieLover]

86. Ikr!!!

[Marcuse]

87. Corporations are routinely bought, sold and dismembered.

It’s been illegal to do that to people since 1865.

[SheltieLover]

92. Great point!

But rednecks & repukes don't grasp those concepts, as evidenced by their behavior.

[bucolic_frolic]

90. Wonder what the clerk got paid?

Big things don't happen from little people.

[SheltieLover]

93. Reminds me of the DOJ "memo" saying sitting potus cannot be indicted

Fucking Muller stood on that along with repuke colleagues & it almost cost us our democracy!

[calimary]

96. Fuckin'-A!!!

💃💃💃💪💪💪🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍🎄🎄🎄👏👏👏

[SheltieLover]

97. I'm dancing with you on this, Mary!

[sdfernando]

102. I'm happy this was reintroduced but I harbor no illusions regarding passage.

Getting a constitutional amendment passed is an extremely heavy lift. 2/3 of each house of Congress is already going to hard if not impossible, and then 3/4 of all the states.

[SheltieLover]

103. Sadly, in many ways, our govt was set up to not allow change

While it provides some stability, it also prevents evolvement.

At least corp repuke scum wilk be on record.

[colsohlibgal]

106. If Only This Would Pass

Doubtful but we can hope.

The Citizens United decision is one of two major factors that led us to Trump and other trouble. The other is the ditching of the Fairness Doctrine which led to Fox News, OAN, Newsmax, and right wing radio.

Of course that is augmented by everything else being tilted to the Republicans, the Senate makeup and the Electoral College.....just on that no Dubya, no Trump.

[SheltieLover]

107. Fairness Doctrine is convenient for media ratings!

Also need to reinstitute pre-St. Reagan wealth tax & fix our fking infrastructure!

The roads in Memphis area are literally like off roading! This, in large part to shitbag repuke gov Lee only allocating a teeny amount to this largely Bkue area, but still...

[Squinch]

110. Oh, YES!!! From this all good things flow!!

[SheltieLover]

111. Please read #21!

Not a law or SCOTUS decision, but a clerk's notation!