Democrats in Senate Committee Approve Limitations To The First Amendment - An Open Letter to Legislators….

A proposed amendment that would limit election funding protected by the First Amendment has been passed in committee by Senate Democrats.

S.J.RES.19 -- Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections. (Introduced in Senate - IS)

SJ 19 IS

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. J. RES. 19

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

June 18, 2013

Mr. UDALL of New Mexico (for himself, Mr. BENNET, Mr. HARKIN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. TESTER, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. COONS, Mr. KING, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. FRANKEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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JOINT RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled (two-thirds of each House concurring therein), That the following article is proposed as an amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States:

`Article--

`Section 1. To advance the fundamental principle of political equality for all, and to protect the integrity of the legislative and electoral processes, Congress shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to Federal elections, including through setting limits on--

`(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, Federal office; and

`(2) the amount of funds that may be spent by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.

`Section 2. To advance the fundamental principle of political equality for all, and to protect the integrity of the legislative and electoral processes, each State shall have power to regulate the raising and spending of money and in-kind equivalents with respect to State elections, including through setting limits on--

`(1) the amount of contributions to candidates for nomination for election to, or for election to, State office; and

`(2) the amount of funds that may be spent by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.

`Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant Congress the power to abridge the freedom of the press.

`Section 4. Congress and the States shall have power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation.'.

This proposed amendment most still be passed in both Houses of Congress, as well as by the majority of States before it takes effect, but the fact remains that it was approved in committee in the first place.

I am writing to tell you that I am fundamentally opposed to SJ Res 19, and I EXPECT you to vote against it when it comes out of committee for a vote.  Although election funding remains a touchy subject, the Supreme Court has ruled that it is protected speech under the First Amendment.  SJ Res 19 represents the most transparent attempt on the part of the democrats to control how election funding is achieved - and WHO will receive that funding. This resolution gives you the ability to allow funding for those issues and individuals with whom you agree, while limiting or denying funding to those who oppose your agenda.  It will allow you to continue to receive funding from George Soros, Warren Buffet or Bill Gates, while excluding the Koch Brothers or the DeVoses from funding issues or individuals that you deem to be ideologically unacceptable.

I am opposed to this proposed Constitutional Amendment.