Rep. Sutton Joined by House Colleagues to Introduce Campaign Finance Constitutional Amendment
Press Release
Today, Congresswoman Betty Sutton (OH-13) was joined by Congressman Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Congressman Jim McDermott (WA-07), Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (ME-01), and Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. (IL-02) to introduce an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would authorize Congress to regulate the raising and spending of money for federal political campaigns, including independent expenditures, and allow states to regulate such spending at their individual levels.
"At a time when America's confidence in its elected officials is at an all time low, and spending by shady outside political groups in campaigns is at an all time high, we must take bold action to fix a system that no longer serves the American people," said Sutton. "This Amendment will give Congress the chance to right the wrongs of past Supreme Court decisions and finally put political power back in the hands of the American people, not the deep pockets of big corporations and secret political attack groups."
Sutton's amendment would provide Congress with the responsibility to regulate the raising and spending of funds, which would allow laws to be established regulating so-called, "Super PACs" which have worked to concentrate money and political power in the hands of the political elite and away from working Americans.
The amendment offered is a companion amendment to one introduced by U.S. Senators Tom Udall (NM) and Michael Bennett (UT) on November 1st of this year. The proposed amendment:
* Authorizes Congress to regulate and limit the raising and spending of money for federal political campaigns and allow states to regulate such spending at their level.
* Includes the authority to regulate and limit independent expenditures, such as those from Super PACs, made in support of or opposition to candidates.
* Would not dictate any specific policies or regulations, but instead would allow Congress to pass campaign finance reform legislation that withstands constitutional challenges.
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