HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013/08/06 Item 14RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA IN SUPPORT OF
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT [N RESPONSE TO THE CITIZENS U1~ITED CASE
RULING TO GIVE THE GOVERN\'1.9ENT BROAD RIGHTS TO REGULATE CORPORATE
CAMPAIGN ACTIVITIES
1'~'FLEREAS; free and fair elections are essential to American democracy and
effective self-eovernance: and
V1rHEREAS, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the United
States Supreme Court held that independent spending on elections by corporations and
other groups could not be limited by eovemment regulation, a decision that alloy+•s for
unlimited corporate spending in elections: and
WHEREAS, in reaching its decision in Citizens United, the Supreme Court
interpreted the First Amendment of the Constitution to afford corporations the same
political free speech protections as natural persons in the context of campaign
expenditures; and
RTFIEREAS, the Citizens United decision has proven to be a controversial
decision that could severely limit state and local efforts to regulate corporate activin• in
their campaign finance laws; and
y1'HEREAS, in his dissent. Justice John Paul Stevens stated that "[c]orporations
have no consciences; no beliefs; no feelings, no thoughts; no desires. Corporations help
structure and facilitate the activities of human beings; to be sure; and their 'personhood'
often senses as a useful leeal fiction. But they are not themseh•es members of 'R'e the
People' b}• whom and for whom our Constitution vas established": and
~irHEREAS. members of Coneress are seekine to amend the U.S. Constitution in
response to the Citizens United decision to establish that corporations are not entitled to the
entiret}• of political free speech protections afforded natural persons: and
WHEREAS; several hundred municipalities; including San Diego; New York
City. San Francisco. Chicago. Los Angeles, and Oakland, have successfully passed
resolutions s u p p o rt i n g Constitutional amendments to achieve this objective; and
~\'HEREAS, the City of Chula Vista has a long history of demonstratins support for
an orderly political forum in which individuals may express themselves effectiveh•: to place
realistic and enforceable limits on the amounts of money that may be contributed to political
campaigns in municipal elections; and to prohibit or limit contributions by organizations in
order to develop a broader base of political efficacy within the community.
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NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of
Chula Vista joins other cities in calling on Congress to begin the process of amending
the Constitution to provide that the ability to make contributions and expenditures to
influence the outcome of public elections belongs only to natural persons and is no
longer a form of constitutionally protected political speech for corporations.
Presented by
Patricia Aeuilar
Cite Councilmember
Approved as to form by
len R. Goo ins
C~ritAttorrrey ,
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