Local and Congressional Leaders to Discuss Path to Restraining Corporate Spending in Our Elections
A People For the American Way panel will showcase the rapidly growing movement across the country to address the threat to our democracy from
unrestrained corporate spending to influence our elections, made possible by the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The
American people are taking a stand in the halls of government – from city council and state legislative chambers to the halls of the U.S. Congress –
and mobilizing their elected officials in support of amending the Constitution to ensure that “We the People” means all the people, not just the
privileged few.
Panelists will engage in a comprehensive discussion about the nationwide effort to restore the balance of power to the people, describing their
experiences in organizing toward this goal and successfully advocating for resolutions to overturn Citizens United.
WHAT:
Panel Discussion on Constitutional Remedies to Overturn Citizens United
WHEN:
January 24th, 2012, 10:00-11:30 A.M. EST
WHERE:
106 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC
WHO:
-
- Senator Tom Udall
Representative Ted Deutch
Representative Keith Ellison
Maryland State Senator Jamie Raskin
New York City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito
Colorado Activist Elena Nuñez
Marge Baker, Executive Vice President, People For the American Way (moderator)
VIDEO:
Citizens and their elected representatives have already taken official action in cities and states across the country by passing resolutions opposing
the outsized influence that corporations hold in our democracy made possible by Citizens United. Local and state-wide resolutions have been introduced in
CA, CO, FL, HI, MA, ME, MI, MT, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, VT, WA and WI. At the federal level, 10 proposed constitutional amendments have
been introduced during the 112th Congress.
Under the United For the People banner, more than 60 organizations representing millions of
activists around the country are working to harness the grassroots power of the vast majority of Americans who believe there is too much money in
politics. As the second anniversary of Citizens United passes this month, the expanding network of organizations united in opposition to
unchecked corporate spending in our elections is coordinating a
series of actions
from grassroots gatherings to rallies at courthouses and corporate headquarters across the nation to let the peoples’ voice be heard.
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