CONCORD, MA — Following the Supreme Court decision in Gill v. Whitford today, a group of business leaders, Constitutional lawyers, and democracy reform advocates issued a statement calling for a Constitutional amendment to fix American democracy.
“Nearly everyone agrees that politicians should not pick their voters and a self-selected donor elite should not be the only voice heard in our political system. it’s up to the American people to demand a Constitutional amendment..” Said Steve Lipscomb, Managing Director of Fix It America.
“We have a unique and historic opportunity to restore the American republic.” Said Jeff Clements, President of American Promise. “This Amendment is not just about ‘gerrymandering’ or ‘campaign finance.’ It’s about our rights and responsibilities as equal citizens in our republic.”
American Promise is leading the national campaign for an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to address the growing influence of money, corporations and special interests in elections and government. The demand for an amendment follows a series of controversial Supreme Court cases, including Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, that struck down longstanding campaign finance laws concerning undue influence of those with unlimited funds in the political process. In the series of 5-4 decisions, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of unlimited money to influence the outcome of an election, whether by a wealthy individual, global corporation, union or other entity was protected freedom of speech under the First Amendment, and could not be limited.
Nineteen states and nearly 800 cities and towns have passed resolutions with cross-partisan support formally calling on Congress to propose an amendment to address the problem of widespread corruption and political inequality. In Montana and Colorado, voters have approved ballot initiatives supporting this Constitutional amendment by 75-25%. In November 2016, Washington State became the 18th State to call for this Constitutional amendment, with a voter initiative passing by wide margins in every region and every Congressional district of the state. In February, 2018 New Mexico became the first state to pre-ratify the Fix It America Constitutional Amendment.
###
Text of the Fix It America Constitutional Amendment:
Section I. Congress and The States shall regulate the role of money in elections and governance to ensure transparency, prevent corruption, and protect against the buying of access to or influence over representatives. No such reasonable regulation shall be deemed in violation of freedom of speech rights in the Constitution of the United States or its Amendments.
Section II. Legislative districts or districting plans shall not intentionally or unduly favor or disfavor any political party.
American Promise, a national non-partisan, non-profit organization is supporting citizen led initiatives in 50 states with one goal: winning the 28th Amendment to get big money out of politics. American Promise inspires, empowers, and organizes Americans from across the political spectrum to build support for the 28th Amendment community by community, state by state, to drive the Amendment out of Congress and to the States for ratification. To learn more about American Promise and to help this cause, visit www.AmericanPromise.net
