According to media reports, Senator Schumer will announce today that the Senate will vote this year on SJ Res 19, a constitutional amendment that would restore the ability of Congress and the states to regulate the raising and spending of money on elections in the wake of Citizens United, McCutcheon and other Supreme Court decisions.
“Today’s announcement is a major step forward in the movement to restore government to the people,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President at People For the American Way. “Americans are fed up with elections being auctioned to the highest bidder and they’ve offered broad support for amending the Constitution to restore the ability to set common-sense limits on the influence of powerful corporations and the ultra-wealthy in our democracy. Elections should be decided by the power of individuals’ votes, not the size of their wallets.”
Already, 16 states and more than 550 towns and cities around the country are on record in support of a constitutional amendment to restore government by the people. On ballot initiative after ballot initiative, when put to a vote by the people, three quarters of voters support adoption of an amendment.
“Americans across the political spectrum support amending the Constitution to get big money out of our elections,” said Baker. “This vote will be an opportunity for senators of both parties to show their support for fair elections and for the principle that voters, not just billionaires and giant corporations, should be in charge of our democracy.
“Senators Udall, Reid and Schumer should be applauded for moving the ball forward on this issue. People For the American Way’s hundreds of thousands of members, activists and supporters are deeply energized about this issue, and we’ll be working non-stop to support this amendment and restore government to the people.”
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