The Supreme Court last week reaffirmed the counter-populist proposition that corporations enjoy a well-funded First Amendment right to so-called "free speech," thereby emboldening their disproportionate domination of the national and local electoral process. The uncontested 25 Jun 2012 ruling (American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock), struck down a Montana ban on corporate political contributions, and upheld a similar 2009 decision, Citizens United v. F.E.C.
Most members of Congress, themselves beneficiaries of corporate funds, have yet to bite the hand that feeds their campaign expenses. California Rep. Adam Schiff recently introduced a joint resolution ( HJR111), asserting that Congress and the states may indeed regulate corporate political expenditures - but its fate is uncertain in this Presidential election year.
A more populist remedy for corporate control is being promulgated by attorney and former Green Party presidential candidate DAVID COBB, the director of Move to Amend [ movetoamend.org ]. The group is seeking a Constitutional amendment to control corporate financing of elections. Cobb spoke recently on issues surrounding the Court's corporate defense at the 2012 Peace Symposium held at Lane Community College [ lanecc.edu ] in Eugene, Oregon.
Anchor: Robert Knight Producer: Thiago Barrozo Engineer: Michael G. Haskins Origin: WBAI/Pacifica
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