SJR 121 – urging support for a constitutional amendment

Wisconsinites are tired of the corruptive influence money has on our campaigns and elections.  Elite out-of-state donors, foreign governments, dark money, and special interests are taking away our voices.  A new, bipartisan resolution has just been introduced into the Wisconsin Senate that would help to restore integrity to American elections!  With SJR 121, we can send a clear message that the people of Wisconsin want to allow Congress and States to set reasonable limits on campaign spending.  Tell your WI state representatives to support SJR 121 today!  Legislative sessions are ending soon, so time is of the essence.If you don’t know your legislators, click here — opens new window of map of Wisconsin legislative districts where you enter your address in top right search bar.

———————– Sample text for your message —————————————-

As a constituent of yours, I would very much appreciate it if you would support SJR 121 in this legislative session.

The United States was founded with the guiding principle of being a government of, by, and for the people. We have lost our way. Today, big money, dark money, and even foreign money pours unchecked into our elections and is drowning out the voices of the people.

Please do everything in your power to make sure SJR 121 passes in the 2024 legislative session. This is an urgent matter. We need a constitutional solution that empowers Congress and the States to set reasonable limits on the power of money in our elections.

As your constituent, I would be very proud if you would support this vital legislation. Thank you.

—————————- End Sample Text ————————————————–

Thank you for your patriotism…Let’s Fix This!

14th Anniversary of the Disastrous Citizens United Decision

This is the 14th anniversary of the disastrous Citizens United decision by an elitist Supreme Court, which over the last 135+ years has twisted our Constitution into a pretzel. The word ‘people’ now means corporate Super PACs and the word ‘free speech’ now means billions of dollars in campaign cash.  Billionaires and gigantic corporations get whatever they want, and everyday Americans get nothing…zero representation.

Now we face a dysfunctional government, created by billions of dollars of negative advertising.  Decades of brain washed propaganda.  We’re all angry and divided, separated into polarized tribes. ‘Throw the bums out’ is the common mantra and now we’re dangerously close to throwing out the American Constitution too.

Our problems are not left and right.  It’s up and down.  Our representatives won’t represent us until their campaigns are financed by us.  We must overrule our elitist Supreme Court and end the notion that corporation is a person and that money is the same thing as speech.  Only then can we pass reasonable campaign finance laws that level the playing field.  Only then can We The People work together to solve America’s other major problems.

Wisconsin United to Amend has made great strides over the last 14 years.  Over 840 communities across the U.S. have already passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment, including over 170 governments in WI and 22 state legislatures.  Once enough states press Congress on this, they will be forced to act.

We face challenging times, but we remain focused on building the Democracy Movement necessary to restore our Republic.  We’re proud to work with our partners – Wisconsin Democracy CampaignFair MapsFinal Five Voting and other good government groups.

If you can, please help pass a resolution in your community, church or local business.  Or contact your state representatives and ask them to support our resolutions (AJR 92 and SJR 82) that call for a statewide vote on Citizens United.  Just reply to this email and we’ll provide you with all the support you need.  Keep the faith, stay active, talk to your neighbors and together we’ll someday Overturn Citizens United!

Let’s Fix This!

George Penn & Jim Crist (co-chairs)
Wisconsin United To Amend
Building the Movement to Restore our Republic

P.S. And please support our work with a donation. Just click here.

City of Viroqua Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

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Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com

City of Viroqua Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

Madison, WI (April 4, 2023) – In the April election, Wisconsin residents in the city of Viroqua in Vernon County voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

The referendum passed with an overwhelming majority (91%).

That brings the total to 170 Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment. In total, almost 3.5 million people (61% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 22 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 840 towns, villages, cities and counties.

Karen Dahl, a community leader in Viroqua, said “I want to thank the Viroqua City Council for voting 100% of those present to include the resolution on the spring ballot.  And, 91% of the vote in Viroqua tells us that people want to clean up our politics.  We need to amend the constitution to combat corruption, end elite and foreign money control of our elections, and secure representation for all Americans.”

“Over 60% of Wisconsinites have already called for an end to “corporate personhood” and seeing money as a form of speech.”, explained Shawano resident Jan Koch.  “It’s time that our state legislators follow the will of “we the people” and put the referendum on the state ballot.”

Resolutions calling for a statewide vote on Citizens United have been introduced into the state legislature (AJR 78 / SJR 61).  The referendum would ask voters if they support allowing individuals and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Numerous polls show that government corruption and money in politics is a top issue in America.[1]   Over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[2]

Jackie Cody, a resident in Rhinelander, explained that: “We need limits on how much money can be contributed and spent on political races.  Only people have a constitutional right to free speech.  Money is not ‘political speech’ under the First Amendment.”

Four in five Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll. A New York Times/CBS poll found that 85 percent of Americans—including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—believe we need fundamental changes to our campaign finance system or to completely rebuild it.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: “People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.”

United To Amend is a nonpartisan, all volunteer, citizens group.

For more information visit UnitedToAmend.org

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3, photo4, photo5, photo6 and photo7.

Link to this press release.

[1] https://wiuta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Money-In-Politics-Polls.pdf

[2] https://mayday.us/data/20150925_gop_polling_results.pdf

https://mayday.us/data/20150925_dem_polling_results.pdf

http://www.texansunitedtoamend.org/uploads/5/0/8/1/5081028/representus_analysis.pdf

Bartelme Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

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Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com

Bartelme Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

Madison, WI (November 9, 2022) – In the November election, Wisconsin residents in the town of Bartelme in Shawano County voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

The referendum passed with an overwhelming majority (88%).

That brings the total to 168 Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment. In total, almost 3.3 million people (58% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 22 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 830 towns, villages, cities and counties.

“Over half of Wisconsinites have already called for an end to “corporate personhood” and seeing money as a form of speech.”, explained Shawano resident Jan Koch.  “It’s time that our state legislators follow the will of “we the people” and put the referendum on the state ballot.  The millions of anonymous dollars spent during this election cycle continue to disenfranchise the average citizens’ voice in American governance.”

“Our politics has become a money game where only the rich and corporate special interests can ante up to play.” exclaimed Bartelme resident Steve Parks.  “And, in the meantime, the rest of us are all left wondering why the needs of everyday citizens aren’t being addressed.”

Resolutions calling for a statewide vote on Citizens United have been introduced into the state legislature (AJR 78 / SJR 61).  The referendum would ask voters if they support allowing individuals and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Numerous polls show that government corruption and money in politics is a top issue in America.[1]   Over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[2]

Jackie Cody, a resident in Rhinelander, explained that: “We need limits on how much money can be contributed and spent on political races.  Only people have a constitutional right to free speech.  Money is not ‘political speech’ under the First Amendment.”

Four in five Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll. A New York Times/CBS poll found that 85 percent of Americans—including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—believe we need fundamental changes to our campaign finance system or to completely rebuild it.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: “People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.”

United To Amend is a nonpartisan, all volunteer, citizens group.

For more information visit UnitedToAmend.org

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3, photo4, photo5, photo6 and photo7.

Link to this press release.

[1] https://wiuta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Money-In-Politics-Polls.pdf

[2] https://mayday.us/data/20150925_gop_polling_results.pdf

https://mayday.us/data/20150925_dem_polling_results.pdf

http://www.texansunitedtoamend.org/uploads/5/0/8/1/5081028/representus_analysis.pdf

America’s Core Problem…Money in Politics

America’s Core Problem…Money in Politics

There is no shortage of problems in America.  If you’re focused on fixing any one of those problems, thank you!  And yes, there are deep rooted social issues such as racism and other forms of discrimination, plus religious intolerance that won’t be fixed by limiting Money in Politics.  But if we had a functioning democracy, we could better address those social issues.  Sadly, Money in Politics is a difficult problem to fix because the U.S. Supreme Court is elitist and pro-corporation.

  • The Supreme Court has given constitutional rights meant only for individuals to artificial entities such as corporations, unions and nonprofits such as Super PACs. This gives corporations constitutional advantages over the American people, since corporations have a lot of money and never die.
  • Corporations can afford to continually bring cases to SCOTUS until they get what they want.
  • Supreme Court Justices generally have privileged backgrounds and an ivy league education.

Billions are spent buying politicians via donations and Super PACs.  This is nothing more than bribery.

  • Billions of dollars are spent on negative attack ads that spew misinformation which divide Americans.
  • Politicians prioritize campaign cash over doing what’s good for their constituents.

Billionaires and Corporate Special Interests have a very different agenda which results in bad policy for Americans:

  • Billionaires and Corporate Special Interests control our tax laws resulting in historic wealth inequality.  Mega corporations can eliminate their competition and are exploiting the middle and lower classes.  Everyday Americans can’t get ahead anymore and they’re frustrated and angry.
  • Gun manufactures and the NRA owns the GOP and now there are more guns than Americans, resulting in almost daily mass shootings.
  • Healthcare companies own plenty of politicians and America’s healthcare costs are twice as much as  any other country.
  • The Koch Brothers were pioneers in buying influence which fueled climate change deniers for decades and hurts our transition to clean energy.
  • The Military Industrial Complex owns enough politicians to make sure America spends more on defense than the next 9 largest countries combined.
  • Deregulation results in environmental degradation, toxic pollution, healthcare problems and climate disasters.
  • Public schools are failing because families are stressed and disillusioned about the future.  It all comes back to inequality.  Inequality brought on by money in politics.
  • College is so expensive because of the lack of state funding, because colleges aren’t bribing enough politicians.

All this results in a populace that is divided, misinformed, frustrated, angry, blaming government corruption and the other party for all their problems.  It’s all related to our corrupt campaign finance system, compliments of our Supreme Court.

Solutions:

  • Make voting both easy and secure.
  • Disclosure requirements on Political Spending (no more dark money).
  • Adopt election systems with non-partisan primaries and ranked choice voting.  This encourages moderation and discourages partisanship.
  • Eliminate gerrymandering by adopting nonpartisan districting.
  • Public financing for candidates (stopgap solution, since big buck candidates can opt out).
  • Overhaul Lobbying and Ethics laws.
  • Amend the Constitution to clarify that only people are people and money isn’t the same thing as speech.
  • Change our system of representation to encourage majority rule and discourage rule by a radical minority.

Get Involved. Get Active…Let’s Fix This!

Red Springs Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

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Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com

Red Springs Votes to Amend the U.S. Constitution

Madison, WI (April 6, 2022) – In the Spring election, Wisconsin residents in the Town of Red Springs voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

The referendum passed with an 89% majority in Red Springs, which is in Shawano County.

That brings the total to 167 Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment. In total, almost 3.3 million people (58% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 22 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 830 towns, villages, cities and counties.

“Over half of Wisconsinites have already called for an end to “corporate personhood” and seeing money as a form of speech.”, explained Red Springs resident Deanna Bisley.  “It’s time that our state legislators follow the will of “we the people” and put the referendum on the state ballot.  The millions of dark money dollars spent during recent election cycles continues to disenfranchise everyday Americans.”

“The Citizen’s United decision has been a disaster since day one.  We used to worry about old fashioned PACs!”, exclaimed Shawano resident, Jan Koch.  “Even their voices are not heard since the explosion of Super PACs.  The voice of the people will be gone until our Constitution is amended to correct this travesty.”

Resolutions calling for a statewide vote on Citizens United have been introduced into the state legislature (AJR 78 / SJR 61).  The referendum would ask voters if they support allowing individuals and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Numerous polls show that government corruption and money in politics is a top issue in America.[1]   Over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.

Jackie Cody, a resident in Rhinelander, explained that: “We need limits on how much money can be contributed and spent on political races.  Only people have a constitutional right to free speech.  Money is not ‘political speech’ under the First Amendment.”

Four in five Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll[2]. A New York Times/CBS poll[3] found that 85 percent of Americans—including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—believe we need fundamental changes to our campaign finance system or to completely rebuild it.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: “People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.”

United To Amend is a cross-partisan, all volunteer, citizens group.

For more information visit UnitedToAmend.org

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3, photo4, photo5, photo6 and photo7.

[1] https://wiuta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Money-In-Politics-Polls.pdf

[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-28/bloomberg-poll-americans-want-supreme-court-to-turn-off-political-spending-spigot

[3] https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/us/politics/poll-shows-americans-favor-overhaul-of-campaign-financing.html

“For the People Act” Explained

You’ve probably heard something about the “Voting rights bill” that the Democrats passed in the House. The Senate is about to take it up.  What’s in it and what are some of the myths that are now being leveled against it?

The bill that the House passed is H.R.1For the People Act”.  It passed along strict party lines.  In the Senate it is called S.1 and it’ll be taken up in committee this Wednesday, March 24th.

It’s much more than a voting rights bill.  It’s a desperately needed democracy reform billVox.com compiled an excellent description of what’s in the bill, so rather than paraphrase, here is an excerpt:

Voting rights

  • Creates new national automatic voter registration that asks voters to opt out rather than opt in, ensuring more people will be signed up to vote. Requires chief state election officials to automatically register eligible unregistered citizens.
  • Requires each state to put online options for voter registration, correction, cancellation, or designating party affiliation.
  • Requires at least 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections; early voting sites would be open for at least 10 hours per day. The bill also prohibits states from restricting a person’s ability to vote by mail, and requires states to prepay postage on return envelopes for mail-in voting.
  • Establish independent redistricting commissions in states as a way to draw new congressional districts and end partisan gerrymandering in federal elections.
  • Prohibits voter roll purging and bans the use of non-forwardable mail being used as a way to remove voters from rolls.
  • Restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies who have completed their sentences; however, the bill doesn’t restore rights to felons currently serving sentences in a correctional facility.

Campaign finance

  • Establishes public financing of campaigns, powered by small donations. This has long been Sarbanes’s vision:  The federal government would provide a voluntary 6-1 match for candidates for president and Congress, which means for every dollar a candidate raises from small donations, the federal government would match it six times over. The maximum small donation that could be matched would be capped at $200.  This program isn’t funded by taxpayer dollars; instead, the money would come from adding a 4.75 percent fee on criminal and civil fines, fees, penalties, or settlements with banks and corporations that commit corporate malfeasance (think Wells Fargo).
  • Supports a constitutional amendment to end Citizens United.  (requires a separate resolution).
  • Passes the DISCLOSE Act, pushed by Rep. David Cicilline and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, both Democrats from Rhode Island.  This would require super PACs and “dark money” political organizations to make their donors public.
  • Passes the Honest Ads Act, championed by Sens. Klobuchar and Mark Warner (VA), which would require Facebook and Twitter to disclose the source of money for political ads on their platforms and share how much money was spent.  (A Facebook spokesman told Vox the company has publicly supported Honest Ads Act since 2018).
  • Discloses any political spending by government contractors and slows the flow of foreign money into the elections by targeting shell companies.
  • Restructures the Federal Election Commission to have five commissioners instead of six, in order to break political gridlock at the organization.
  • Prohibits any coordination between candidates and super PACs.

Ethics

  • Requires the president and vice president to disclose 10 years of his or her tax returns. Candidates for president and vice president must also do the same.
  • Stops members of Congress from using taxpayer money to settle sexual harassment or discrimination cases.
  • Gives the Office of Government Ethics the power to do more oversight and enforcement and implement stricter lobbying registration requirements. These include more oversight of foreign agents by the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
  • Creates a new ethics code for the US Supreme Court, ensuring all branches of government are impacted by the new law.

Clearly, this is a pro-democracy bill that makes it easier for U.S. citizens to get registered and vote, ends partisan gerrymandering, promotes small donor campaign financing and ends “dark money” by promptly disclosing donations over $10,000.

Sadly, republican lawmakers in 43 states have introduced 253 bills to restrict ballot access, citing the need to assure Americans that elections will no longer be “rigged” — despite the lack of evidence of widespread fraud in 2020.

So, republicans are eager to disparage and mischaracterize what’s in the bill. Here are some of their falsehoods:

  • It uses your tax dollars to support candidates you don’t support. No, it uses criminal and civil fines and settlements with corporations that commit malfeasance.
  • This is a democratic power grab that is anti-republican. Well, yes, it pushes back against GOP voter suppression laws.  Sadly, the GOP is increasingly a minority rule party pushing an agenda dictated by its rich donors in addition to other constituencies: gun enthusiasts, anti-abortion folks and white nationalists.
  • It’s an unconstitutional overreach of states’ rights. This set national standards for registration and voting.  There are national standards for lots of things, and this is necessary to push back against current voter suppression tactics. Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution gives the Congress the power “at any time” to “make or alter” state election regulations.
  • Same day voter registration invites fraud. More than twenty states already have same day registration. Proof of identity and residence are required and there are criminal penalties for fraudulent voting.  Cases of fraud are far and few between.

Republicans in the Senate would happily use the filibuster rule to kill the For the People Act. Democrats call it necessary democracy reform and they can change or eliminate the filibuster rule with a simple majority.  As majority leader, Chuck Schumer said: “Everything is on the table. Failure is not an option.”

Wisconsin United To Amend supports this major democracy reform bill and hopes you will too.  Please educate your family and friends about it and hopefully together we can see it through.  It represents an important step towards our goal of a Constitutional Amendment that would once again allow states and Congress to set legislative limits on campaign spending.

Two More Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution

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Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com

Two More Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution

Madison, WI (November 5, 2020) – In the November election, Wisconsin residents in two communities voted to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

The referenda passed with overwhelming majorities in both Winnebago County (76%) and the town of Land O’ Lakes in Vilas County (84%).

That brings the total to 166 Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment. In total, almost 3.3 million people (58% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 20 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 830 towns, villages, cities and counties.

“Over half of Wisconsinites have already called for an end to “corporate personhood” and seeing money as a form of speech.”, explained Oshkosh resident Cheryl Hansen.  “It’s time that our state legislators follow the will of “we the people” and put the referendum on the state ballot.  The millions of anonymous dollars spent during this election cycle continue to disenfranchise the average citizens’ voice in American governance.”

“The Citizen’s United decision has been a disaster since day one.  We used to worry about old fashioned PACs!”, exclaimed Minocqua resident, Kay Hoff.  “Even their voices are not heard since the explosion of Super PACs.  The voice of the people will be gone until our Constitution is amended to correct this travesty.”

Resolutions calling for a statewide vote on Citizens United have been introduced into the state legislature (AJR 11 / SJR 9).  The referendum would ask voters if they support allowing individuals and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Numerous polls show that government corruption and money in politics is a top issue in America.[1] Over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[2]

Jackie Cody, a resident in Rhinelander, explained that: “We need limits on how much money can be contributed and spent on political races.  Only people have a constitutional right to free speech.  Money is not ‘political speech’ under the First Amendment.”

Four in five Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll. A New York Times/CBS poll found that 85 percent of Americans—including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—believe we need fundamental changes to our campaign finance system or to completely rebuild it.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: “People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.”

United To Amend is a nonpartisan, all volunteer, citizens group.

For more information visit UnitedToAmend.org

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3, photo4, photo5, photo6 and photo7.

[1] https://wiuta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Money-In-Politics-Polls.pdf

[2] https://mayday.us/data/20150925_gop_polling_results.pdf

https://mayday.us/data/20150925_dem_polling_results.pdf

http://www.texansunitedtoamend.org/uploads/5/0/8/1/5081028/representus_analysis.pdf

Money in Politics Tops List of Voter Concerns

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Contact: Jim Crist, 608-274-6201, wisconsin@unitedtoamend.org

Money in Politics Tops List of Voter Concerns

Madison, WI (October 16, 2020) Numerous polls show that government corruption is the top issue on the minds of voters.[1]  Over 90% of Americans think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[2]  It’s no surprise that Americans’ job approval rating for Congress hovers near single digits.

The non-partisan citizen-action group, Wisconsin United To Amend, contacted all 200+ state Assembly and Senate candidates numerous times, via email, Facebook and phone calls, to determine their level of support for a U.S. Constitutional amendment declaring that free spending is not free speech and only actual human beings have human rights.  Based on responses, the group has compiled a voter education guide with a list of 56 Anti-Corruption Candidates (https://wiuta.org/2020-anti-corruption-candidates)

Phillip Anderson, an Assembly candidate in Madison put it this way, “Generally the question has been, is money speech? That’s not the problem. The problem is that money BUYS speech, crowding out and shouting down others’ speech. The Founders were looking for an open forum of ideas and discussion, not a contest to see who could raise the most money and dominate the discussion!”

Kriss Marion, a state assembly candidate in Lafayette County stated, “I make hundreds of calls to constituents a day. What is nearly universal about those calls is that people feel that politicians are corrupt and government is broken. Many citizens have lost faith in democracy and believe that money runs our nation. They aren’t wrong. Until we overturn Citizens United, and abolish unlimited corporate spending on campaigns, we won’t have control of our own government. But there are many things we could do to turn the tide back right here at home in Wisconsin, including reducing campaign donation limits to candidates. What we spend on elections is completely outrageous.”

Katherine Gaulke, a state assembly candidate from the Town of Delavan explains, “In 2015, my opponent voted to overturn a corporate contribution ban that had been in place since 1905.  As your next Assemblyperson from the 32nd District, I will support AJR 11 and Wisconsin United to Amend.  Let’s get dark money out of politics.”

Mike McCabe, clean government advocate and former candidate for governor, lamented the lack of attention given to this issue during candidate forums, stating “There were about 50 candidate forums leading up to the primary.  Over the course of all those forums, candidates were asked more than 200 questions.  Three were about money in politics. Voters are concerned about it and want to hear what can be done.  Most candidates don’t want to talk about it.  The media and interest groups rarely ask them to.”

Wisconsin United To Amend is a non-partisan, all volunteer organization. One volunteer, Jackie Cody of Rhinelander, expressed frustration: “Citizens in 164 Wisconsin communities have passed resolutions calling for an amendment.  We need state legislators to put it on a statewide ballot, but they won’t even let the bills have a public hearing!”

Due to the efforts by hundreds of volunteers across the state, referenda and resolutions have passed in 164 communities with voter approvals as high as 91%.  In total, 3.2 million people (56% of Wisconsinites) live in jurisdictions that have called for this amendment.  Two more communities will be on the November ballot. For more information, visit wiuta.org.

Link to this press release.

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3 and photo4.

Lafayette County Board Votes to Support Constitutional Amendment

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Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com

Lafayette County Board Votes to Support Constitutional Amendment

Darlington, WI (May 19, 2020) – On Tuesday, May 19th, the Lafayette Board of Supervisors voted unanimously for a resolution that supports an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  The amendment would overturn the Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. FEC, so that limits could be placed on the vast amount of money in our political system.  The amendment would clarify that only human beings should have inalienable human rights and money is not the same thing as free speech.

Lafayette County joins with 163 other Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment.  In total, almost 3.2 million people (56% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions.  Across the country, 20 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as over 820 towns, villages, cities and counties.

“We cannot solve any of the pressing issues in front of our country as long as our politicians do not represent us, and they won’t until we get the big money out of politics,” said Darlington resident Nancy Fisker.

Multiple polls show over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[1]  Numerous polls show that Money in Politics is a top issue for voters.[2]

One volunteer, Bill Holland of Monroe, expressed frustration: “Citizens in 164 Wisconsin communities have passed resolutions calling for an amendment.  We need state legislators to put it on a statewide ballot, but they won’t even let the bills have a public hearing!”

Resolutions calling for a statewide vote on Citizens United have been introduced into the state legislature (AJR 11 / SJR 9).  The referendum would ask voters if they support allowing individuals and corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns.

Former State Senator Dale Schultz summed it up well. “We’re talking about billionaires turning this country into a Russian-style oligarchy, where there are two dozen billionaires who buy the whole political process… we are awash in money because of Citizens United, and it puts good people in both parties in a difficult situation.”[3]

The roots of the problem run deeper than Citizens United. Over a century ago Robert M. La Follette spoke out against corruption wrought by the “concessions and privileges” given to corporations by legislators. “Why,” he asked, “in a government where the people are sovereign, why are these things tolerated?”

Four in five Americans oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll. A New York Times/CBS poll found that 85 percent of Americans—including majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents—believe we need fundamental changes to our campaign finance system or to completely rebuild it.

Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, summed it up succinctly: “People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money.”

United To Amend is a bipartisan, all volunteer, citizens group.

For more information visit UnitedToAmend.org

Background material can be obtained here: pdf1, pdf2 and pdf3.

Photos: photo1, photo2, photo3, photo4, photo5, photo6 and photo7.

Link to this press release.

[1] https://mayday.us/data/20150925_gop_polling_results.pdf

https://mayday.us/data/20150925_dem_polling_results.pdf

http://www.texansunitedtoamend.org/uploads/5/0/8/1/5081028/representus_analysis.pdf

[2] https://wiuta.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Money-In-Politics-Polls.pdf

[3] Senator Dale Schultz presentation, March 7, 2014 at the L.D. Fargo Public Library, Lake Mills, WI.

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