ACTION: CITIZENS UNITED (updated 7/26/12)

 

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Update (7/26): anti-Citizens United amendment passes SENATE today –with only one dissenting vote– with bipartisan support! This is a big victory for the people and grassroots activists.

Remember, the House still needs to take it up–the next session is Monday: call and ask your Rep. to ask the Speaker to bring the anti-Citizens-United resolution to a vote!

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UPDATE1: Senate minority leader tables Citizens United vote.

With Sen Tarr’s action, The anti Citizens United resolution is now scheduled to be taken up next Thu, June 28.

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UPDATE2: June 28, Tabled Again

The Senate Minority tabled the vote AGAIN. The clock is winding down… Continue to make those calls and urge others to do the same!!!

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UPDATE3: July 13, Tabled Again

Once more, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr has delayed vote on this anti-Citizens United amendment.  Why are they politicizing restoration of democracy?

The Republican minority is clearly seeing this vote as political, when it is not: overturning Citizens United is supported by large majority of Americans–including Republicans. More calls, emails and letters into the Senate. Let’s remind senators that restoring free speech to people–not corporations– is a non-partisan issue.

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UPDATE4 (7/26/2012):
We expect a CITIZENS UNITED vote TODAY. Do you know how your legislators are voting?: http://progma.us/whoismylegislator 

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END ‘CITIZENS UNITED’ — TIME SENSITIVE! — the vote is *TODAY* JUNE 21/Thu

(updated 7/26/pm) Now that it’s passed the Senate… Call the State House  (6/21/2012, Thursday), and ask your Representative to ask the Speaker to bring to a vote the resolution opposing ‘Citizens United’, as reflected in S.772!

Formal session begins at 1PM, so make your call now–and ask your networks to do the same.

Background on ‘Citizens United’:

“In Citizens United v. FEC, the Court held that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend unlimited funds on campaign advertisements, provided that these communications are not formally “coordinated” with any candidate. In so holding, it found that the political speech rights of American voters and corporate entities are indistinguishable. Citizens United’s immediate impact was substantial. In one swift stroke, the Court overturned at least twenty years of its own precedent, rendered unconstitutional more than sixty years of federal law restricting corporate electioneering expenditures, and annihilated the statutes of twenty-two states that previously prohibited election spending from corporate general-treasury funds. Citizens United also ignited widespread popular, academic and political discussion about money, politics and the Constitution—a nationwide dialogue that has not yet abated. Now that we are well into the 2012 election cycle, the decision’s lasting effects are clearer and clearer.” –Brennan Center for Justice

Massachusetts citizen activists have been organizing against the ruling–65 towns/cities have passed resolutions calling for a Constitutional Amendment to overturn ‘Citizens United.’ And there is a grassroots effort to put Citizens United on November’s ballot in Massachusetts. [UPDATE 7/12/2012: anti-Citizens United question will likely appear on the ballot in 6 state senate districts and 35 state rep districts--great work by grassroots to get this done! ]

Add your voice–tell your state Senator to listen to the people: support the resolution calling for the end of the era of ‘Citizens United.’ CALL TODAY!

 Originally posted 6/21/2012. Action still relevant.

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