Rep. Deutch Unveils Constitutional Amendment Eliminating Corporate Personhood and Money-as-Free-Speech for Elections

I have every confidence morally conscientious people across the globe
understand the importance of such protections against corporate predation
in their countries and in their lives, and welcome discussion of how people
can alter the structure of their governance and laws to positively affect
substantial economic democracy for all.

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*Rep. Deutch Unveils OCCUPIED Constitutional Amendment*
*Bans Corporate Money in Elections and Declares Corporations Are Not People*


*Washington, DC, Nov 18 *- Today, Rep. Ted Deutch (FL-19), a Democrat on
the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the Outlawing Corporate Cash
Undermining the Public Interest in our Elections and Democracy (OCCUPIED)
Constitutional Amendment.   The OCCUPIED Amendment both overturns the
Citizens United Supreme Court decision that wrongly awarded the
Constitutionally-protected free speech rights of people to corporations and
totally bans corporate money from America’s electoral process.

“No matter how long protesters camp out across America, big banks will
continue to pour money into shadow groups promoting candidates more likely
to slash Medicaid for poor children than help families facing foreclosure,”
said Rep. Deutch.  “No matter how strongly Ohio families fight for basic
fairness for workers, the Koch Brothers will continue to pour millions into
campaigns aimed at protecting the wealthiest 1%.  No matter how fed up
seniors in South Florida are with an agenda that puts oil subsidies ahead
of Social Security and Medicare, corporations will continue to fund massive
publicity campaigns and malicious attack ads against the public interest.
Americans of all stripes agree that for far too long, corporations have
occupied Washington and drowned out the voices of the people.  I introduced
the OCCUPIED Amendment because the days of corporate control of our
democracy must end. It is time to return the nation’s capital and our
democracy to the people.”

Though several amendments aimed at overturning Citizens United have been
introduced in recent weeks, Rep. Deutch’s OCCUPIED Amendment is the only
proposal that:

   - Makes clear that free speech and other constitutionally protected
   rights are those of natural persons and not corporations or entities formed
   to promote their business interests.
    - Reaffirms that corporations are formed under the laws of Congress and
   the States and are thus subject to laws enacted to protect the environment,
   ensure public health, and other safeguards for the people.
    - Overturns Citizens United by ending corporations’ ability to spend
   unlimited amounts of their general treasury funds in elections.
    - Sets the stage for real campaign finance reform by reasserting the
   authority of Congress to regulate all election contributions and
   expenditures, including those of individuals and groups funneling money
   anonymously to influence elections.

The introduction of Congressman Deutch’s amendment was applauded by several
public interest leaders dedicated to stopping corporations from buying
elections to pad their profits:

“Public Citizen enthusiastically applauds and endorses Representative Ted
Deutch’s proposed constitutional amendment, which would comprehensively
repair the damage done to our democracy by Citizens United,” said Robert
Weissman, President of Public Citizen. “It would clarify that
constitutional rights are intended for real, live, breathing human beings.
It would end corporate spending on elections. And it would give Congress
authority to adopt a sensible campaign finance system. It would make
American stronger, more democratic and more just.”

“We join Americans across the nation in applauding Congressman Ted Deutch
for affirming fundamental truths self-evident to almost everyone except
five guys on the Supreme Court:  For-profit corporations are not people and
thus are not entitled to the same constitutional rights as people,” said
Lisa Graves, Executive Director of the Center for Media Democracy,
publisher of PRWatch.org and ALECexposed.org, and former Deputy Assistant
Attorney General. “No other congressional effort has so directly confronted
the twin problems created by judges who have arrogantly granted rights to
corporations, without democratic consent, and overturned bipartisan laws
that limited the corrupting influence of money in our elections.”

“The problems caused by the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizen’s United
must be addressed – and we’re delighted to see Representative Deutch offer
a comprehensive solution to stop the flood of corporate money in our
electoral system,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President of Policy and
Programs for People for the American Way. “Our democracy belongs to all of
the people, not just the wealthy, and not to large and powerful corporate
interests. Amending the constitution is the best tool we have to protect
that democracy for the American people.  Rep. Deutch’s amendment is a
positive step toward ensuring that our elected officials remain accountable
to the people they are in office to serve.”
*Click here to read the OCCUPIED amendment* <http://bit.ly/u6173w>*.
*
*Click here for a backgrounder on the amendment* <http://bit.ly/uiR5p1>*. *


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11/18/2011 07:43:00 PM





















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