Garballey joins activists seeking Citizens United amendment 

In the days leading up to the second anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, Massachusetts lawmakers joined state and national organizations and activists in Boston to support a state legislative resolution calling on the U.S. Congress to overturn the ruling and restore fair elections and constitutional rights to the people.

"The People’s Rights Resolution," introduced by state Sen. Jamie Eldridge, Democrat of Acton, and state Rep. Cory Atkins, Democrat of Concord, decries the court's ruling as a "serious and direct threat to our democracy." If passed, the resolution would have the state Legislature ask the U.S. Congress to "pass and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to restore the First Amendment and fair elections to the people."

As the vice chairman of the Joint Committee on Election Laws, Rep. Garballey, Democrat of Arlington and West Medford, indicated that the passage of this legislation is one of his top priorities this legislative session.

"This decision by the United States Supreme Court sets a precedent that corporations are people and that they can contribute unlimited amounts of money to their candidates. This decision negatively impacts the voices of people and ideas in selecting political leaders and needs to be overturned," he said in a news release Monday, Jan. 23.

Local impact?

Asked how this issue may have an impact on Arlington, whose Town Meeting expects to face article this spring about Citizen United, Garballey told YourArlington:

"I think one of the first places you could see the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling in regards to Citizens United is at the local level. It is important to remember that the Citizens United decision also involves smaller corporations who may have a direct financial or political interest in some of the decisions that are made at the local level by our local elected officials."

In the release, Eldridge said: "This decision dramatically dilutes the voice of every American who does not control a large corporate treasury. The health of our democracy and the integrity of our political system are at stake, and the only effective, long-term solution is to pass a constitutional amendment that will overturn this misguided, destructive decision."

The assembled lawmakers and organizations also urged the Legislature’s Joint Judiciary Committee to advance this resolution by scheduling a hearing next month as well as a vote to bring the resolution to the floor.

Organization whose names are on the release are Berkshire Environmental Action Team, Common Cause Massachusetts, Corporate Accountability International, Free Speech for People, Greater Boston Coffee Party, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Mass VOTE and Public Citizen.

"Our democracy is at risk," Atkins said. "The Citizens United decision opened the floodgates, allowing unlimited corporate money to flow into politics. We must pass a constitutional amendment stating that people, not corporations, have a right to free speech. Only by preserving the voice of individual citizens can we protect our democracy."

Following Citizens United decision, campaign spending by outside groups has skyrocketed. In the 2010 election cycle, the first since the Supreme Court decision, outside groups spent nearly $300 million.

To learn more, visit www.FreeSpeechForPeople.org.