Amending the U.S. Constitution to enable Congressional Regulation of the Raising and Spending of Money in Elections (S. Joint Res. 5)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. Joint Res. 5?
(Updated May 8, 2021)
This joint resolution would amend the United States Constitution and give Congress the authority to set limits on "the raising and spending of money" to influence federal elections. States would be given the ability to pass legislation to enforce the amendment.
Argument in favor
Big money's grip on elections is so tight that America is barely a democracy. It takes a solution as big as a constitutional amendment to solve a problem this broad and deep.
Argument opposed
The bill restricts the First Amendment right to free speech and is too narrowly focused on elections while failing to address advocacy spending. It also insulates establishment culture in Washington.
Impact
Corporations and other organizations trying to spend money on elections; Congress; State governments.
Cost of S. Joint Res. 5
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
"A narrow majority of the U.S. Supreme Court has been systematically diluting the power of the American voter by allowing corporations and billionaires to pour millions of dollars to influence our elections. New Mexicans, and all Americans, are sick of corporations and special interests trying to buy our elections. Over 3 million people have signed petitions, which were delivered to me on Monday, calling for Washington to reform the broken campaign finance system."
"Under the proposal, Congress would be granted virtually unlimited power to regulate and ration speech about those who hold or seek federal office, including both congressional and executive offices. This power would extend to 'the raising and spending of money and in kind equivalents with respect to Federal elections,' including (but not limited to) 'the amount of funds that may be spent by, in support of, or in opposition to such candidates.'"
"the government may not prohibit corporations or unions from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections.
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