Senate Dems to Seek Constitutional Amendment to Limit Citizens United Impact

Noah RothmanApr 30th, 2014, 11:25 am
 

In 2010, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. FEC that the limits that were in place restricting political spending violated the First Amendment to the Constitution which protects free expression. On Wednesday, Senate Democrats revealed their intention to introduce a measure which would seek to amend the United States Constitution and restrict the protections on political speech in the First Amendment.

Fox News reporter Chad Pergram revealed on Wednesday that Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is prepared to introduce an amendment aimed at restricting the influence outside groups can have on politics.

A constitutional amendment faces a high hurdle before it becomes law. Presuming such an act could pass Congress, an unlikely prospect given the fact that amendments require the support of two-thirds of both the U.S House and Senate, an amendment must be ratified by 38 of America’s 50 state legislatures.

RELATED: Poll: Enthusiasm Gap Remains Challenge for Midterms Dems

The proposal is likely aimed at energizing Democratic constituencies which polls have shown are less enthusiastic about voting in the 2014 midterm elections than their Republican counterparts.

[Image via Jonathan Ernst / Reuters]

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Noah Rothman - Editor

An experienced broadcaster and columnist, Noah Rothman has been providing political opinion and analysis to a variety of media outlets since 2010. His work has appeared in a number of political opinion journals, and he has shared his insights with television and radio personalities across the country.