Kerry Calls For Constitutional Amendment To Reverse Supremes

[Inuca]

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/447125-Kerry_Calls_For_Constitutional_Amendment_To_Reverse_Supremes.php

Senate Communications Subcommittee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) says there needs to be a constitutional amendment indicating that corporations don't have the same free speech rights as individuals.

That came in a Senate Rules Committee hearing Tuesday (Feb. 2) with the rather loaded title: "Corporate America vs. The Voter: Examining the Supreme Court's Decision to Allow Unlimited Corporate Spending In Elections."

At the hearing, committee Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) launched an effort to stem a potential new flood of corporate campaign ad money to broadcast and cable outlets.

Kerry said it would take some time to craft that amendment, and in the meantime the committee should pass various bills that have been introduced to tighten up disclosure and disclaimer rules and give shareholders more say in corporate campaign speech.

[MBS]

1. Good for him!! n/t

[karynnj]

2. Constitutional amendments are extremely tough - but this really seems necessary

given the current Supreme Court. Roberts and Alito were really bad appointees.

[wisteria]

3. Good for him, it will take time, but I think it has to be done. In the meantime,

Congress should place other restrictions on Coporate donations.

[ProSense]

4. This is great. Here is

Kerry's release.

[ObamaKerryDem]

5. This is great! I hope it is successful. That ruling IS dangerous..

..and I'm glad the Senator is taking the initiative to at least try to combat it, though I am not surprised that he would; he's a natural leader :). I stand by my belief that he is one of the best Presidents we never got to have..

[YvonneCa]

6. Agreed. I think President Kerry has been serving...

...well. Since November 2004...:7

[ladym55]

7. Hooray for Senator Kerry!!!

This "activist" Supreme Court ruling will likely go down in history as one of the worst. Keith Olbermann compared the decision to the Dred Scott decision.

I'm glad to see Senator Kerry take the lead on this.

[MBS]

8. apparently Dodd will introduce legislation for this

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/04/chris-dodd-seeks-consitut_n_450015.html

JK mentioned as a supporter of this move near the end of article (brief article, not much detail, probably there is more detailed version out there)

[karynnj]

9. From this Specter said he wanted a constitutional amendment too

Which committee would have jurisdiction? Schumer had a hearing in the rules committee. I assume that was because campaign finance laws are part of the rules Senators must follow. It might be the judiciary committee.