Topping out at nearly $4 billion, we’ve just wrapped up the most expensive midterm election in our country’s history. Everybody outside of Washington agrees – Republicans, Democrats, and Independents — that there’s too much special-interest money being spent to influence our elections. But what can we do about?
On Friday, November 7, Senator Jon Tester, D-Mont., will deliver the keynote address at the symposium on “Advancing a New Jurisprudence for American Self-Government and Democracy,” sponsored by Harvard Law School and Free Speech For People. The Senator will speak on Citizens United, democracy, and ensuring the rights of individuals in the political process.
According to John Bonifaz, Co-Founder and President of Free Speech for People, “The Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and the doctrines underlying that ruling present a direct and serious threat to the promise of American self-government: of, by, and for the people.”
To restore democracy, we need a Constitutional amendment that clearly states: 1) Congress has the authority to regulate campaign finance; 2) Corporations are not people with constitutional rights. So far 16 states, 600 cities and municipalities have passed resolutions in support of an amendment that would overturn Citizens United and over 150 member of Congress support an amendment.
Sen. Tester has been a leading proponent of a Constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics and ensure everyone has a voice.
When: Friday, November 7, 2014 1:00-2:00pm
Where: Harvard Law School, WCC 2012 (The event is open to the public, seating is first come first served, remote viewing will be available in the Dewey & LeBoeuf Room, WCC 3036.)
If you cannot attend the event, we will be providing a live video stream of the event here.
Full disclosure, I work with Free Speech for People, a national non-partisan campaign dedicated to challenging the misuse of corporate power and to reclaiming our democracy.
