New Jersey Nears Historic Legislation Banning Money From Politics

[orenbus]

I know a number of people on this forum are either from Jersey or used to live in Jersey.

What do you guys think about this?



Thursday, October 16 at 1:00pm
Senate State Government Committee
Committee Room 7, 2nd Floor,
State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

[presence]

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 132STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED AUGUST 11, 2014



Sponsored by:
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator BRIAN P. STACK
District 33 (Hudson)

Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Gill




SYNOPSIS
Applies to Congress for limited constitutional convention to limit corrupting influence of money in politics and overturn Citizens United decision and related cases.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.



A Concurrent Resolution applying to the Congress of the United States for the calling of a convention for the limited purpose of addressing concerns raised by the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission and related cases.

Whereas, Elections should be free of the corrupting influence of excessive spending by outside interests and fair enough that any citizen can run for public office; and
Whereas, Numerous United States Supreme Court decisions have frustrated the will of the American people by eroding our ability to choose our political leadership, write our laws, and determine the fate of our country; and
Whereas, The New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey State Senate passed Assembly Resolution No. 86 and Senate Resolution No. 47, respectively, in the 2012-2013 legislative session; and
Whereas, Those resolutions expressed the Legislature’s “strong opposition to [the] U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission [and called] upon [the] Congress of the United States to propose amending [the] U.S. Constitution” to overturn that decision; and
Whereas, Congress has failed to propose, pursuant to Article V of the United States Constitution, amendments thereto that would adequately address the concerns expressed in Assembly Resolution No. 86 and Senate Resolution No. 47; and
Whereas, Article V of the United States Constitution also requires Congress to call a convention for proposing amendments thereto upon application by two-thirds of the legislatures of the several states; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey believes that there is a great need for a convention to propose amendments to the Constitution to address the concerns raised by citizens opposed to the decision of the Supreme Court in Citizens United and related cases, and believes that such a convention must be limited solely, specifically, and exclusively to addressing those concerns; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey believes that the delegates to such a convention should be selected equally from individuals currently holding State or local office, or selected by election from each Congressional district for the purpose of serving as delegates, though past or present holders of federal elective office should be prohibited from serving as convention delegates, and the State should retain the ability to restrict or expand the power of its delegates within the limits noted above; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey intends that this be a continuing application considered together with all other applications calling for a convention currently pending in other state legislatures, and all other passed, pending, and future applications with the aforementioned concerns until two-thirds of the several states have applied for a convention and it is convened by Congress; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):

1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey makes application to the Congress of the United States for a convention to be called under Article V of the Constitution of the United States of America for the sole, specific and exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that would limit the corrupting influence of money in our political system including overturning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission and related cases.

2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, the Archivist of the United States and the respective clerks of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate requesting that they record this application in the published tally of state petitions for a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution, the Governor of each state, and the presiding officer of each house of each state legislature in the United States.


STATEMENT

This concurrent resolution makes application to the Congress of the United States of America for a convention to be called under Article V of the Constitution of the United States for the sole, specific and exclusive purpose of proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that would limit the corrupting influence of money in our political system including by overturning the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission and related cases.
The resolution provides that copies of the resolution are to be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate, each Senator and Representative from New Jersey in the Congress of the United States, the Archivist of the United States and the respective clerks of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate requesting that they record this application in the published tally of state petitions for a convention of the states under Article V of the United States Constitution, the Governor of each state, and the presiding officer of each house of each state legislature in the United States.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2014/Bills/SCR/132_I1.HTM

[presence]

The Plan

Our Ultimate Goal:

To restore true, representative democracy in the United States by pressuring our State Legislators to pass a much needed Free and Fair Elections Amendment to our Constitution. There are only 2 ways to amend the Constitution. (1) Go through our Federal Government (2) Go through our State Legislators via an amendments convention of the states.

Wolf PAC believes that we can no longer count on our Federal Government to do what is in the best interest of the American people due to the unfettered amount of money they receive from outside organizations to fund their campaigns. We point to the failure of the Disclose Act as rock solid evidence that this would be a total waste of our time, effort, and money. We also point to the recent decision by the US Supreme Court to not even hear a case filed by Montana claiming it did not have to abide by Citizens United, as proof that state legislation is not a sufficient measure to solve this problem. We believe that we have no choice but to put an amendment in the hands of our State Legislators, who are not, at this moment in time, completely blinded by the influence of money and might actually do what 96% of the country wants...take away the massive influence that money has over our political process.

Step 1: Believe

Convince enough people to believe that we still have the power to change our country for the better and that it is still possible to have a true, representative democracy in the United States. Convince those same people that we have a plan that can work if they are willing to do any of these vital things for us; volunteer their skills, spread the word via telling others, posting our link through email or Facebook, donating, or becoming a Wolf PAC Member. Think about how much power we would have if just 1/3 of 1 percent of us were giving only $10 a month to this cause...we would have 10 million dollars a month to educate people and actually change the system for the better. You can become a member and help us have the power we need to fight fire with fire by Clicking Here.

Step 2: Action

Build a structure of volunteers in every state and every district in this country that is capable of making contact with State Legislators at the drop of a hat. We know that State Legislators listen to people within their own districts and that if they get just three calls on any given issue they are going to pay attention to that issue. If we build our network big enough to put pressure on State Legislators in every district in the country then we will win. That's why we really need you to sign up to volunteer. We need you to call your local State Legislators when asked and set up a meeting with them to discuss the influence of money in political process. (very easy conversation, everybody has an opinion)

Step 3: Focus

Once we have found those states that are the most receptive to joining this battle with us we will focus our time, effort, and money on them until we get that vital and historic first state to call for an Article V. Convention for the purpose of limiting the influence that money has over our political process. According to Article V, Congress must call for an amendment-proposing convention, “on the application of the Legislatures of two thirds of the several States”, and therefore 34 state legislatures would have to submit applications.

Step 4: Connect

After we have gained momentum from getting that first state "on the board" we will then begin to introduce State Legislators all around the country to each other via conference calls, webinars, etc. and show them that this a real possibility if they are willing to stand up together. Explain to them that a convention is the only way to restore true democracy to the United States and that they have a chance to be part of something incredibly historic.

Step 5: Demand

Make every election in the United States from now until this problem is solved a one issue election. If the influence of money in politics is at the root of all other issues in our country we must start voting like it. We will inform the public by running television commercials, radio ads, social media, internet ads, and using the media platform of the largest online news show in the world, The Young Turks. As we get more and more states to call for a convention with the purpose of getting the influence of money out of our election process we will identify these states on our interactive map so that the public can click on each state and read the legislation themselves.


Step 6: Enforce

Once an amendments convention has been called we will continue to put pressure on the delegates to craft a strong and lasting Free and Fair Elections Amendment that will preserve our democracy for future generations. There will be so much media attention at this point due to the historic nature of the event that no delegate would dare propose an amendment that the vast majority of the country does not agree with. Furthermore, any amendment proposed would still need to go out of that convention and be ratified by 75% of our state governments (i.e. 38 states) in order to become part of the Constitution. That is why we are confident that an amendment to deal with the unfair influence of all big, outside money flooding our political process in the United States is the only possible amendment that could come from such a convention.

Step 7: Rejoice

Celebrate the fact that we had the courage and persistence to accomplish something truly amazing and historic together.

Something to keep in mind:

Near the turn of the 20th century the states wanted a direct election of senators, and Nebraska was the first state to call for an Article V. Convention in 1893. By 1913 the movement had come within one state of reaching the necessary 2/3 threshold that would force a convention. When it became clear to Congress that the 17th Amendment was going to happen one way or another they decided to preempt a convention by passing it themselves. The threat of a convention is the strongest message we can send and the most effective way to restore our democracy in the United States. This can and must be done in a far shorter time period then it took for the 17th Amendment, then again, they didn't have the power of the internet and other amazing technology we will be using in this battle.

http://www.wolf-pac.com/the_plan

[specsaregood]

If you ever pondered whether an article V convention was a good idea, NJ getting onboard should clue you in. do you want your state to end up like NJ?

fwiw: I dwell in NJ and think it is a horrible idea.

[muh_roads]

"Lets vote to give ourselves less power!"

Said no entitled aristocrat, ever.

[thoughtomator]

Money in politics would have far less relevance if it had to move an engaged and informed citizenry, instead of a bunch of brainwashed couch potatoes. The real change that has to be made is not in the law but in the people.

[NewRightLibertarian]

Makes about as much sense as taking the money out of prostitution.

Article V, for whatever reason, is the worst possible idea BTW.

[Valli6]

No way do I trust them to do anything beneficial to citizens. They will use a constitutional convention to create something worse. The alledged intent of legislation is always the opposite of what actually happens.

"Elections should be free of the corrupting influence of excessive spending by outside interests and fair enough that any citizen can run for public office;"

Who gets to decide specifically, at which dollar amount the spending becomes "excessive", and what constitutes an election that is "fair enough"?

[Anti Federalist]

Let a bunch of people from New Jersey muck about with the Bill of Rights?

Ummmm, no.

[enhanced_deficit]

But without big money, bankers would have to work harder to buy puppets, swcbags etc..

[acptulsa]

Cool.

Anyone have information on the chip-in set up for this?

[economics102]

Money in politics would have far less relevance if it had to move an engaged and informed citizenry, instead of a bunch of brainwashed couch potatoes. The real change that has to be made is not in the law but in the people.

Exactly. This is basically looking at the problem through the wrong end of the telescope.

[Acala]

As long as government has the power to hand out billions of dollars, restrict competition, and make or break anyone it wants, politicians will find a way to sell that power to the highest bidder. We need to restrict the POWER of the state, not fiddle with the governing process.

[Zippyjuan]

Just read the synopsis posted in this thread but I don't see any actual ideas as to HOW to remove money from politics beyond calling for a Constitutional Convention run by current polititians. Am I missing something?

[specsaregood]

Just read the synopsis posted in this thread but I don't see any actual ideas as to HOW to remove money from politics beyond calling for a Constitutional Convention run by current polititians. Am I missing something?

That about sums it up zip.

[Tod]

So long as politicians have favors to give, people WILL find a way to influence them, laws be damned.

Render the politician impotent and no one will WANT to bribe them.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

The money has to come from either donors, taxpayers, or the candidates themselves. Shut up with this stupid issue already.

[Brian4Liberty]

Well, it looks like the Progs agree with Mark Levin about an Article V convention.

[Brian4Liberty]

Citizen's United is a travesty, as it restricts common people but leaves the Oligarchs free to buy their influence. How to change that is the real question.

If the proposed solution is to turn all election funding over to government, you have not solved the problem. The problem is influence, and the Plutocrats will always have undue influence. A government run election system would work in a similar way to the government-media complex run Presidential Debates we already have. The criteria will be manipulated such that only candidates chosen in smokey back rooms by cronies will be allowed to participate.