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If there is just one issue every American can and should agree on is that we desperately need to get the money out of politics. The Supreme Court 2010 ruling under Citizens United allowed unlimited donations by billionaires and corporations to SuperPacs which has squelched the voice of ordinary Americans. Our constitutional right to free speech for all is worthless is if no one can be heard or heeded except members of the 1%.

No other democracy in the world allows unfettered spending on elections by private individuals or corporations. $2 billion was laundered through SuperPacs in the 2010 election. Our legislators have to spend 5 hours a day on the phone raising money to fund their campaigns to stay in office. Political action/obbyist groups have enormous influence on our Committees. For just one example, these groups have donated more money, $9.4 million, to members of the House Financial Services Committee than any other Committee's members which is why the House Financial Committees number of members has increased to an astonishing 66 members. And it works when you have House members introducing bills allowing banks to loan money to people they suspect can't pay it back and insurance companies to sell life insurance policies they know are worthless deals. It's easy for House members to introduce these ludicrous bills when they know they will die in the Senate and never become law but it sure helps them with that 5 hour begging for donations requirement.

The ruling that money is free speech comes from the SC case Buckley v Valeo 1976 which upheld limits on contributions directly to campaigns fearing corruption or the appearance of corruption. However, the SC also held that spending money in other ways to influence elections such as donating to SuperPacs, is protected "free speech" under the first amendment This is why unlimited money can be given to SuperPacs but not directly to candidate's campaigns. Following SC cases gave corporations the same constitutional rights as people slowly adding more and more rights to corporations.

Overturning Citizens United is not enough. We need a constitutional amendment that says:

Money is not free speech.

Corporations are not people.

From: What's your view of this session of Congress?

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