WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) joined fellow Members of the House of Representatives today in introducing a constitutional amendment (H.J. Res. 119) to restore much-needed campaign finance limits. This amendment would reverse the dangerous decisions made by the Supreme Court in recent years in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission cases, which have allowed for the unprecedented increase in outside and undisclosed money in our elections. The amendment also would undo the Supreme Court’s ruling in Buckley v. Valeo that spending money in elections is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment.
“The Supreme Court’s profoundly damaging decisions in Citizens United and McCutcheon have unleashed a flood of additional money into our political system at a time when deep-pocketed special interests and corporations already have far too much influence in our elections.” Himes said. “It is time we stop giving corporations, outside interest groups, extremely-wealthy individuals, and unions free rein to spend limitless amounts of money - often secretly - to gain influence and affect elections. I am proud to support this constitutional amendment to restore reasonable campaign finance limits, ensure each person’s voice and vote are heard equally, and protect our democracy.”
Click here for a copy of the amendment. The measure is the House companion to the constitutional amendment (S. J. Res. 19) that is expected to receive a vote in the U.S. Senate this year.