Calif. lawmakers seek constitutional convention on Citizens United
Reporting from Sacramento — The California Senate gave final approval Monday to a measure asking Congress to call a convention to amend the U.S. Constitution and overturn the Citizens United court decision that eliminated limits on corporate spending in elections.
Sen. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Concord) said California becomes the second state to petition for a change in the Constitution to clarify that corporations can face limits in their campaign contributions because money does not constitute speech and may be legislatively limited.
“Voters are clearly fed up, and polling shows this, with the notion that money is speech and big money can drown out the speech of average Americans,” DeSaulnier told his colleagues.
The state Assembly had previously approved Assembly Joint Resolution 1, which does not require action by the governor.
The measure was drafted by Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles).
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