Reverse Citizens United

My 5/9/12 post, pre-Town Meeting vote on Citizens united.

"We the People - Needham" (Info on town meeting resolution, other materials related to SuperPACs, CitzU, etc.)

Here's some links and info and background about why we need to act on this locally. [short link to here: http://hmny.me/citzu ] (in progress)
click to embiggen


LOCAL PERSPECTIVES
REAL LOCAL IMPACT OF BIG MONEY IN POLITICS
  • From twitter: RT @RevEverett: Oh, I see why we lost the #casino vote. We were outspent by $11.4 million. #mapoli #bospoli (2/2012): 
    • "When Beacon Hill lawmakers finally adopted a bill to legalize casino gambling, it wasn’t just a victory for would-be high rollers or Massachusetts’ cash-strapped cities and towns.  It was also a long-awaited — and pricey — win for a casino industry that had longed hoped for a toehold in the state. To press its case at the Statehouse and win over wavering lawmakers, the industry hired a small army of lobbyists who, year after year, steadily made the argument for expanded gambling in Massachusetts."
FUNDING/$$ IN MA RACES
EDITORIALS
  • Donors With Agendas - NYTimes.com (2/23/2012) - The presidential primary season is being brought to you by a handful of multimillionaires and companies who have propped up the candidates with enormous donations to their “super PACs.” Just two dozen or so individuals, couples and companies have given more than 80 percent of the money collected by super PACs, or $54 million, according to disclosure forms released on Monday.
PROPOSED TOWN MEETING RESOLUTION - to be voted on at Needham Town Meeting in May 2012
To see if the Town will vote the following resolution; 
Whereas, the expenditure of excessive and unlimited money in the political realm is a threat to our local self determination, our local aid from both the state and federal government, our local economy and is an obstruction to our individual, free, and fair participation in our electoral and governing processes and 
Whereas, the U.S. Supreme Court 5:4 ruling on January 21, 2010 in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission rolled back remaining legal limits on corporate spending in the electoral process, allowing unlimited corporate spending to influence elections, candidate selection, and policy decisions, and thereby drowning out the voice of “We the People” and threatening citizens constitutional right of self-governance. 
Now, therefore, let it be resolved that this Town Meeting calls upon the Massachusetts congressional delegation to support an amendment to the US Constitution that would overturn the Supreme Court decision in this matter. 
Be it further resolved that this Town Meeting calls upon our State Legislature to seek the support of our federal delegation for the amendment and to support the amendment if Congress sends it to the states for ratification.
CAN YOU HELP? Indicate your willingness, here: http://hmny.me/NeedhamSupportsDemocracy






WebSites Dedicated to Reversing Citizens United




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