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How Cities and States are Sticking It to Citizens United
from YES! Magazine:
How Cities and States are Sticking It to Citizens United
From courthouses to statehouses, the pro-corporate ruling is under pressure.
by Brooke Jarvis
posted Jan 05, 2012
The Supreme Court may have declared in Citizens United v. the FEC that corporations have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections, but that doesnt mean cities and states have to be happy about it.
Theyre expressing their disagreement on an increasing number of battlegrounds, with Citizens United under challenge in courts, in city council meetings, in state legislatures, on ballots, and in the streets.
Dissension in the Courts
Some of the most interesting recent action has been in the courts, with lower courtsincluding a state Supreme Court and a federal appeals courttaking on Citizens United.
In Montana, the state Supreme Court upheld a longstanding law limiting corporate spending in politics. A lower court had held that Citizens United invalidated the Corrupt Practices Act, a law passed by citizens ballot initiative in 1912, when it was common practice for the copper industry to bribe state politicians. Unwilling to lose a basic, century-old protection against corruption, the state appealed the issue to the Montana Supreme Court, which on Dec. 30 allowed the law to stand. ................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/brooke-jarvis/how-cities-and-states-are-sticking-it-to-citizens-united
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How Cities and States are Sticking It to Citizens United (Original Post)
marmar
Jan 2012
OP
How about Congress passing new Campaign Finance Laws? I really don't know how this would work
sabrina 1
Jan 2012
#3
It's really great how our President has been so outspoken regarding this issue...
Xtraneous
Jan 2012
#5
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)1. That is such good news!
I wonder what would happen if a majority of the States ended up ruling against it? Is there a way that such a majority would have the power to overturn the law?
drm604
(16,230 posts)2. A constitutional amendment.
That's the only way I know of.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)3. How about Congress passing new Campaign Finance Laws? I really don't know how this would work
but if Congress passes a law would that make Citizens United obsolete?
drm604
(16,230 posts)4. The ruling was that it was unconstitutional to stop organizations
from spending money on political advocacy. Congress can't override that. It will take a constitutional amendment.
Xtraneous
(94 posts)5. It's really great how our President has been so outspoken regarding this issue...
By supporting the very "persons" who will be financing most of his $1billion campaign.
Corruption Winz
(616 posts)6. Good to read..
This always makes me realize that the same republicans that complain about their jobs and what products cost will willingly side with the politicians that seem to always align themselves with employers and major distributing corporations.
Brilliant.