My 2nd response from a Senator on Citizens United

Senator Cornyn also likes his corporate financing.

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Thank you for contacting me regarding campaign finance reform. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

Prior to my election to the United States Senate, President George W. Bush signed the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act into law (P.L. 107—155). In part, this law amended the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by increasing the limit on "hard money"—regulated donation limits on direct campaign contributions used to influence elections—and bans "soft money"—money raised outside federal election restrictions and used to indirectly influence elections. The law also regulates certain political communications for a specific period preceding an election.

On September 8, 2003, the United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding the claim that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act restricts free speech and violates the First Amendment. The Court considered this challenge and issued a decision on December 10, 2003, upholding the reform legislation.

However, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court struck down a provision of the Act that completely prohibited corporations, including non-profit corporations, from exercising their First Amendment right to praise or criticize political candidates in the weeks before an election. In the Citizens United case, the Federal Election Commission had effectively banned a movie produced by a non-profit corporation because that movie was critical of Hillary Clinton, then a candidate for President. The Obama Administration argued for an expansive interpretation of the law that would have even permitted the government to ban certain books if it found that those books contained “electioneering communications.”

I agree with the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the provisions of this law that violated the intent of the First Amendment, which reads: “Congress shall make no law...abridging the Freedom of Speech, or of the Press.” Our First Amendment rights are fundamental principles that strengthen our democracy and republican form of government. The right to criticize the government and argue for one’s political beliefs is essential to a free country. I understand the concerns many Americans have with respect to campaign finance reform. I believe we must make America's campaign process transparent while also protecting our political freedom. You may be certain that I will continue to closely monitor this issue.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator


517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

And now my first response....

Senator Hutchison's Response to my call to support Senator Sanders proposed amendment to reverse Citizens United ruling (She doesn't agree.):


Dear Friend:
Thank you for contacting me regarding campaign finance reform. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

I believe the recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission took a step in the right direction by scaling back the limits on speech imposed upon Americans by the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance Reform Act. I voted against McCain-Feingold because it unduly regulates and limits our First Amendment rights by limiting political speech. I believe that curtailing speech is not the answer to reforming campaign finance.

The Supreme Court ruling protects the freedom of speech for all American citizens. Acting as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution, the Court is charged with ensuring the promise of equal justice under the law to all Americans. Justice Anthony Kennedy concluded that in the opinion of the court “under our law and our tradition it seems stranger than fiction for our Government to make political speech a crime.”

On July 21, 2010, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 3628, the "Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act". The legislation proposes a combination of disclosure and disclaimer provisions designed to provide additional information to regulators and the public about political advertising that could emerge following Citizens United. While proponents claim the bill applies equally to corporations and unions, the bill exempts unions from restrictions that would limit their campaign activity.

On July 27th, 2010, I voted against the measure because it does not treat all United States citizens, corporations and organizations alike when it comes to transparency and accountability. I also rejected it because of the far-reaching regulations it would place on our constitutionally protected speech. On September 23rd, the Senate again took a vote on this act, defeating it once again by a vote of 59-39.

I am committed to maintaining the fundamental fairness and integrity of our political system without infringing upon the constitutional rights of all Americans to participate in our political process. Should any similar legislation come before the Senate, you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind.

I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope that you will not hesitate to contact me on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

Open Letter to the Senators of the United States

It is with great pride and a heavy heart that I write to you today.  I am proud of the United States of America's heritage and foundation based upon the Bill of Rights that give the American People the opportunity to speak their mind to their government and to ask their representatives to do that job which they were elected to do: represent the People.  It is with a heavy heart that I am writing today to discuss a topic which has eroded the American People's ability to have a real voice in their government and turned elections into little more than class warfare.

The Citizen's United vs. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 in a divided 5-4 vote began allowing corporations to not only begin spending money through political broadcasts in an effort to promote their candidate of choice but allowed unfettered amounts of money to begin undermining the people's voice.  Corporations do not enjoy the right to vote, but they do enjoy the right to directly affect the outcome of elections by spending exorbitant amounts of money to spread their message more loudly and widely than any individual could hope to.  

Lobbyists that represent special interest groups are little more than shadow companies that stand between representatives and corporations with the sole purpose of funneling funds from corporations (for-profit and not-for-profit) to candidate's campaigns for election and reelection.  Done directly and without a middle man, this act would still be considered illegal in federal campaigns, but by allowing lobbyists to act on their behalf, it has become standard practice and perfectly acceptable to spend money on candidates and ask for political favors and consideration in return.

As of today, I do not accept that it is a foregone conclusion that my government is utterly lost to us.  I do not accept that you have all abandoned us completely in the lust for the almighty corporate dollar.   I believe that our first act as the People of the United States needs to be communication with our representatives in the United States Government.  I am writing you today in an effort to communicate to you, my Representative, my wishes as a member of your constituency.

It is time that you and your peers return the government to the hands of the American People and take it away from faceless corporations that have only one goal in mind: profit for the few on the backs of the many.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, Sen. Sanders of Vermont introduce a bill to the Senate that would create an amendment to the Constitution to overturn the Citizens United ruling and put the power of governing back into the hands of those that you represent, instead of allowing corporations to continue to dominate our elections by funneling money into campaigns and political broadcasts in an effort to undermine the American People.

I am demanding that you, as a representative of the people, as one of MY representative, sponsor and support this bill with every ounce of your political influence. When a similar bill is introduced and passes in the House as well as the Senate, we can begin the process of letting the People retake their rightful place in a Government.  I would like to be able to say that MY representative is the one that began the process of removing corruptions from the United States Government and returned honor and respectability to those that represent the American People.

Please do not ignore those People you represent.  Approval ratings for both the House and the Senate are at an extreme low.  Recent surveys suggest that close to 80% of the American People, people that you and your peers represent feel that no one in Congress should be reelected.  This is an expression of our distaste for the way in which our government has quite literally been bought by corporations that are beholden to a small group of shareholders rather than the American People.

We cannot and will not continue to abide this corruption.  I am writing you today with the hope that you will reflect the opinion of your constituents and agree that this cannot continue.

-------------------------------------------------------

Feel free to use the above text to contact your Senator.

Find your Senators HERE

Open letter for the House of Representatives

It is with great pride and a heavy heart that I write to you today.  I am proud of the United States of America's heritage and foundation based upon the Bill of Rights that give the American People the opportunity to speak their mind to their government and to ask their representatives to do that job which they were elected to do: represent the People.  It is with a heavy heart that I am writing today to discuss a topic which has eroded the American People's ability to have a real voice in their government and turned elections into little more than class warfare.

The Citizen's United vs. FEC ruling by the Supreme Court in 2010 in a divided 5-4 vote began allowing corporations to not only begin spending money through political broadcasts in an effort to promote their candidate of choice but allowed unfettered amounts of money to begin undermining the people's voice.  Corporations do not enjoy the right to vote, but they do enjoy the right to directly affect the outcome of elections by spending exorbitant amounts of money to spread their message more loudly and widely than any individual could hope to.  

Lobbyists that represent special interest groups are little more than shadow companies that stand between representatives and corporations with the sole purpose of funneling funds from corporations (for-profit and not-for-profit) to candidate's campaigns for election and reelection.  Done directly and without a middle man, this act would still be considered illegal in federal campaigns, but by allowing lobbyists to act on their behalf, it has become standard practice and perfectly acceptable to spend money on candidates and ask for political favors and consideration in return.

As of today, I do not accept that it is a foregone conclusion that my government is utterly lost to us.  I do not accept that you have all abandoned us completely in the lust for the almighty corporate dollar.   I believe that our first act as the People of the United States needs to be communication with our representatives in the United States Government.  I am writing you today in an effort to communicate to you, my Representative, my wishes as a member of your constituency.

It is time that you and your peers return the government to the hands of the American People and take it away from faceless corporations that have only one goal in mind: profit for the few on the backs of the many.

On Thursday, December 8, 2011, Sen. Sanders of Vermont introduce a bill to the Senate that would create an amendment to the Constitution to overturn the Citizens United ruling and put the power of governing back into the hands of those that you represent, instead of allowing corporations to continue to dominate our elections by funneling money into campaigns and political broadcasts in an effort to undermine the American People.

I am demanding that you, as a representative of the people, as MY representative, introduce a bill to the House of Representatives that would do the same thing. When each bill passes in the House and the Senate, we can begin the process of letting the People retake their rightful place in a Government.  I would like to be able to say that MY representative is the one that began the process of removing corruptions from the United States Government and returned honor and respectability to those that represent the American People.

Please do not ignore those People you represent.  Approval ratings for both the House and the Senate are at an extreme low.  Recent surveys suggest that close to 80% of the American People, people that you and your peers represent feel that no one in Congress should be reelected.  This is an expression of our distaste for the way in which our government has quite literally been bought by corporations that are beholden to a small group of shareholders rather than the American People.

We cannot and will not continue to abide this corruption.  I am writing you today with the hope that you will reflect the opinion of your constituents and agree that this cannot continue.

________________________________________________________________________

Please feel free to use the above text and send it to your local representative of the House.

Find your Representative today by going HERE.