Congressman Carney Introduces Bill to Reform Campaign Finance Spending
Press Release
Congressman Carney (D-DE) today introduced a Constitutional amendment, H.J. Res. 121, designed to give Congress the authority to rein in campaign finance spending. The amendment is an effort to reverse the effects of the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission Supreme Court ruling. The bill offers a straightforward solution by allowing our nation's elected bodies to pass a law to limit money in politics.
"The Citizens United decision drastically increased the role of money in politics while drowning out the voices of everyday Americans," said Congressman Carney. "This Constitutional amendment will help rein in campaign spending and restore fairness to the political process."
The Constitutional amendment allows states and Congress to limit campaign contributions or expenditures for candidates seeking election to federal office, including those made independently through PACs. The amendment also gives Congress and states the power to restrict campaign spending by outside organizations within a designated time period leading up to an election.
The Citizens United decision overturned campaign finance laws that had previously served to limit the ability of corporations to influence elections. In order to reverse this decision by the Court, a Constitutional amendment is required. Prior to this decision, Congress and the states had the flexibility to prohibit outside organizations from spending money in support of or in opposition to a candidate running for office.
This meant that companies and advocacy groups were free to advocate their positions or advocate for candidates who supported their positions, but Congress and the states still retained the right to place some limits on campaign advocacy. For example, prior to the Citizens United decision there were limitations on the use of a candidate's name in third-party advertising during a certain period of time leading up to the election. Since the Supreme Court's decision, outside groups have been able to spend unlimited amounts of money through Election Day.
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