Citizens United Resolution Introduced in State Senate
Media Contacts
SJR68 Would Give People of Wisconsin a Voice in Future of State’s Democracy
WISPIRG
Madison, WI – State leaders in the Senate have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 68 (SJR68) that, if passed, would bring a statewide referendum to voters in November 2014 asking whether Wisconsin elected leaders should support a constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United.
“Poll after poll has shown that overwhelming majorities, including Republicans, Democrats and Independents all stand united in the concern that big money, wealthy donors are drowning out the voices of average Americans,” said Bruce Speight, WISPIRG Director. “In a democracy, the size of your wallet shouldn’t determine the strength of your voice or your right to representation. Senators should pass this resolution and give the people of Wisconsin a say in the future of our democracy.”
The referendum question would allow Wisconsinites to weigh in on a Constitutional amendment overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC. The ruling, based on the premises that corporations have the same Constitutional rights as people and that money is equivalent to speech, opened the floodgates to the corrupting influence of big money in our democracy by granting corporations the power to spend unlimited amounts of money to influence our elections.
More than 25,000 Wisconsinites and over 30 grassroots organizations through the Money Out, Voters In Wisconsin coalition have come together urging state leaders to let the people decide and bring a statewide referendum on Citizens United to the people.
Since the 2010 Supreme Court ruling, special interest spending on elections has skyrocketed. According to a report released by the WISPIRG Foundation and Demos entitled “Billion Dollar Democracy,” total spending on the 2012 election cycle topped $5.2 billion, with over $1 billion coming from outside groups like SuperPACs. Nearly 60% of the total SuperPAC funding came from just 159 individuals making contributions of at least $1 million.
Wisconsin has seen a similar trend in our own elections. Spending by candidates and interest groups in elections for state and federal offices totaled $391.9 million in the 2010 and 2012 election cycles – more than triple the $123.7 million spent in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles, according to a review conducted by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.
16 states and more than 500 municipalities have passed resolutions opposing Citizens United since 2010, including 14 counties and municipalities in Wisconsin.
“WISPIRG applauds Senator Hansen and the bi-partisan co-sponsors of this resolution for working to give voters, their constituents and the people of Wisconsin the opportunity to speak out on this profound issue,” concluded Speight.
WISPIRG is a statewide membership-based non-profit, non-partisan public interest organization that stands up to powerful special interests. www.wispirg.org.
