SJR 19: The Most Important Phone Call You'll Make

By Carol Morgan

The media might not tell us what to think, but it does influence what we think about. Right now, there is a lot of hyperbolic and dramatic debate about the situation in Iraq, gun violence, and student debt, but how much of that can the average American control?

If anything, the past three years should remind us to take action on issues we can control and prioritize the actions which make the greatest difference. In other words, pick your battles wisely and throw your full effort into them.

Our very future rests on getting money out of politics.

Citizens United and McCutcheon were a painful victory for plutocrats and corporations. For two years, Move to Amend, Public Citizen, and Popular Resistance have been working diligently behind the scenes, and under the media radar, to correct this problem. It’s been a very long and tortuous road to possible fruition.

In case you missed it (and it would have been easily missed, since there’s been barely a mention in the media) there was an historic hearing in the Senate two weeks ago. The Udall Amendment, Senate Joint Resolution 19, had its first hearing on June 3. Now it’s time to mark-up the amendment and work out the language.

On June 18, the 28th Amendment is scheduled for debate and precise wording in the subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. This would overturn Citizens United and McCutcheon giving the American people the power to regulate and limit campaign spending by the ultra-wealthy and mega-corporations.

In other words, it would prevent plutocratic forces like the Koch Brothers, Chevron and Comcast from buying our elections.

On July 10, it’s scheduled for a vote in the full Judiciary Committee.

And later in July (or, after the August congressional recess, in September), a vote on the floor of the Senate is expected.

This would be a dream come true and a way for us to take back our elections.

After past hearings, extremists like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and Mitch McConnell parroted their favorite far-right canard that the 28th Amendment would be an attack on free speech. Their response is almost laughable. The only purpose it serves is to prevent billionaires and big business from taking over our elections.

What can you do?

Call the nine members of the Senate Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights:

Sen. Durbin, Richard [D-IL] Chair
(202) 224-2152

Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
(202) 224-2823

Sen. Coons, Christopher [D-DE]
(202) 224-5042

Sen. Ted Cruz [R-TX]
(202) 224-5922

Sen. John Cornyn [R-TX]
202-224-2934

Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN]
(202) 224-5641

Sen. Lindsay Graham [R-SC]
(202) 224-5972

Sen. Orrin Hatch [R-UT]
(202) 224-5251

Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]
(202) 224-6361

The amendment is gaining traction. More than 40 senators have already co-sponsored it, but too many remain undecided. It’s time for you to call your Senator AND to call these subcommittee members, demanding they act on SJR 19 and to make SURE that the language in this amendment makes it clear that only human beings have constitutional rights, not artificial entities created by government.

This could be our last chance to wipe out the tiny of camarilla of individuals who choose our candidates and write our legislation. Without this legislation, we will be permanently and effectively drowned out by dollar signs.

This opportunity may never come again.

The plutocrats and the opposition are busy at work, inundating the subcommittee members with calls and emails. Please call TODAY. Inform the subcommittee members as to why we need an amendment and why we want to make sure language is added to address corporate personhood.

What’s more important than having an equal voice in our government and our elections?

http://lubbockonline.com/interact/blog-post/carol-morgan/2014-06-16/sjr-19-most-important-phone-call-youll-make#.U5_KJyhCz2Q .