San Diego, CA
Constitutional amendment needed to curb influence of money in politics
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Buckley v. Valeo, the Supreme Court ruling that first equated campaign spending with “free speech.” Sixteen years ago, Citizens United extended similar rights to corporations and unions.
The results are clear: an explosion of campaign spending and growing concern that our democracy is being dominated by a small, wealthy few. In California, outside money plays an outsized role, causing our elections to be among the most expensive in the nation.
Polling shows broad, bipartisan agreement that money has too much influence in politics.
Americans want voters and elected officials — not the courts — to set the rules.
The solution is a constitutional amendment to restore the authority of Congress and the states to regulate campaign spending. We have amended the Constitution before to correct our nation’s course. It’s time to do it again and put “We the People” back in charge.
— Rosalind Hirst, Normal Heights