Co-authored with U.S. Senators Dick Durbin, Jeff Merkley, Chuck Schumer, and Sheldon Whitehouse
Now more than ever, the American people are showing just how fed up they are with the explosion of big corporate influence over our politics. And now more than ever, the Supreme Court is ignoring its own precedents to unleash a torrent of corporate and special interest money into our elections.
We must put the American people back in charge of our democracy. If the Supreme Court refuses to allow Congress and individual states to regulate the role of money in our elections, we must amend the Constitution to change that -- and together, we are beginning the amendment process this month.
Passing a constitutional amendment is no easy feat -- we've only passed 27 in our entire history, and powerful corporate interests are already lining up against us. But an incredible people-powered campaign to restore our democracy is already mounting, unlike anything we have ever seen.
Since launching our petition at ReverseCitizensUnited.com yesterday, over 50,000 activists have already stood up to demand this constitutional amendment, which would allow Congress and the states to enact common-sense campaign finance reforms.
If you've read this far, please take a moment to sign our petition, too.
Historically, Congress and state legislatures have established contribution limits, disclosure requirements, and other rules to limit the influence of special interests in elections and ensure that government works for the American people, not powerful corporations.
Then, in last year's controversial Citizens United vs. FEC decision, Republican appointees on the Supreme Court overturned prior precedent and struck down Congress' sensible regulations on corporate spending in political campaigns.
A key solution to address the root cause of this problem is to amend the Constitution to make it absolutely clear to the Supreme Court and the special interests that Congress and state governments have the power to limit the flow of corporate money into campaigns.
Our constitutional amendment will stop the growing corrosive influence of big business on our elections and on our government, but it won't pass unless the American people speak out and demand it.
These historic times call for extraordinary measures to ensure our government remains of the people, by the people and for the people, not just powerful interests with the deepest pockets.
Thank you for standing with us to return our elections to the hands of everyday citizens, rather than the special interests.