How Cities and States are Sticking It to Citizens United

[marmar]

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 doesn’t mean cities and states have to be happy about it.

They’re 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 courts—including a state Supreme Court and a federal appeals court—taking 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

[sabrina 1]

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]

2. A constitutional amendment.

That's the only way I know of.

[sabrina 1]

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]

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]

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]

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.