Judiciary Committee Approves Bill to Overturn Citizens United Decision

Press Release

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a resolution cosponsored by U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) to overturn the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United and restore Congress' authority to regulate spending on campaigns. S.J. Res. 19, a constitutional amendment, responds to recent Supreme Court rulings in Citizens United and McCutcheon v. FEC, which reversed long-established precedent and ushered in a period of limitless spending on federal elections.

"I wish it weren't necessary for us to be debating today an amendment to the United States Constitution," Senator Coons said. "I don't take this lightly at all… but recent decisions by this Supreme Court, by a narrow majority -- by an activist, conservative majority -- have thrown over what was a century of settled balance in the concerns over free speech and the impact -- the corrupting and corrosive impact -- of money in politics. In my view, we can't fail to act."

"One of the things that concerns me most deeply about the recent trend of the Supreme Court is the recognition of the legal fiction of a corporation as a person, and the throwing open of corporate treasuries and the resources -- both of labor and corporations -- to flood their dollars into the political marketplace of ideas," Senator Coons said.

The amendment -- which would restore Congress and the States' authority to set reasonable limits on campaign expenditures -- reflects broad public consensus about the corrupting influence of money in the political system. Recent polling found that Americans, on average, believe as many as three-quarters of politicians are corrupted by campaign donations and lobbyists. Another poll found 79 percent of Americans -- and 78 percent of Republicans -- would support limitations on the raising and spending of money by congressional candidates.

Senator Coons urged the Committee to adopt the amendment so Americans can have the opportunity to weigh in on the issue during the required state-by-state ratification process.

"I hope the people of Delaware, the people of Hawaii, the people of Texas, the people of Iowa have a chance to have their say on whether or not the current Supreme Court has overthrown the balance that long-existed between corporate power and money in politics, and the rights of individual citizens to be heard in debate."

In addition to S.J. Res. 19, Senator Coons is also a cosponsor of the DISCLOSE ACT, which would improve transparency by requiring organizations that spend $10,000 or more during an election cycle to disclose their spending to voters.

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