Legislators call for Constitutional Convention

By Amanda Lehmert, Greensboro News-Record, June 10, 2014.

State Rep. Marcus Brandon and other North Carolina legislators have called for a constitutional convention to reverse a controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision on campaign finance.

The resolution calls for a convention to address “unjust influence of powerful economic forces” on elections and concerns caused by the Citizens United case, which opponents say has paved the way for nearly limitless corporate spending. The resolution was introduced in the state House on Monday.

Thirty-four state legislatures must call for a convention on the same topic before one can be formed to amend the U.S. Constitution. So far, only Vermont has requested a convention over campaign finance reform.

Brandon (D-Guilford) joins a long line of legislators who have tried to force campaign finance reform.

“We’re passionate about this issue,” Brandon said. “We are going to have to have a realistic conversation about what it takes to overturn (the Supreme Court decision).”

Local advocates and citizen groups from across the country have come out against the Citizens United decision.

In 2010, the court ruled that corporations have the same rights of free speech — and therefore the same ability to spend money on political campaigns — as individuals.

In 2012, the Greensboro City Council joined other cities to ask Congress to begin a constitutional amendment process to establish that corporations are not individuals for the purposes of free speech protections.

Those calls for Congress to amend the Constitution didn’t gain any traction.

Brandon’s resolution — which is sponsored with four House Democrats and one Republican — bypasses Congress. The resolution was spurred by a political action committee called the Wolf PAC.

“We are taking charge. We are saying, ‘You know what Congress? You are the problem. We don’t think you are willing or capable of amending it, so we will do it without you,’?” said Jason Bonsall, the North Carolina director for the Wolf PAC.

Brandon said it’s a matter of leveling the playing field in elections.

“I don’t think you should be able to start PACs and influence elections to the tune of whatever kind of check you want to write,” Brandon said.

He said he doesn’t think the legislature will seriously consider his resolution this year. He will even face concerns within his party.

Rep. Pricey Harrison (D-Guilford) — who previously filed a resolution against Citizens United and bills calling for campaign finance reform that went unheeded by the legislature — said she is nervous that a constitutional convention could open the door for amendments beyond campaign finance issues.

http://www.news-record.com/news/local_news/article_87df34e0-f11b-11e3-a1d3-001a4bcf6878.html