Sanders applauds Obama’s support for Citizens United amendment

The Citizens United decision ruled that campaign donations were a form of speech and couldn’t be limited under the First Amendment. This has been the first presidential election since the ruling and as a result floods of campaign cash have flowed into super-PACs supporting both GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and President Obama, although Obama has been critical of the fact that, under the decision, PACs don’t have to disclose donor information. Romney, on the other hand, has supported the decision, famously saying, “Corporations are people.”

{mosads}Next week is the Democratic National Convention, where Obama will once again accept the presidential nomination of his party. It is unclear at this time whether Citizens United will be a punching bag during the events and speeches in Charlotte, N.C., where the convention will be held.

Sanders is sponsoring the Saving American Democracy Amendment — the House companion measure is sponsored by Rep. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.). The amendment would say that corporations are not people, that they are not entitled to any rights under the Constitution, that they are subject to regulation by state legislatures consistent with free press protections, and that they are prohibited from making campaign contributions or expenditures. It would also declare that Congress and the states have the power to regulate and limit all political expenditures and contributions.

“What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to tell billionaires like the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson, ‘You own and control Wall Street. You own and control coal companies. You own and control oil companies. Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we’re going to give you the opportunity to own and control the United States government.’ That is the essence of what Citizens United is all about,” Sanders said. “That is why this disastrous decision must be reversed.”

Obama said he supports a constitutional amendment during a Web conversation Wednesday on the site reddit. 

“I think we need to seriously consider mobilizing a constitutional amendment process to overturn Citizens United (assuming the Supreme Court doesn’t revisit it),” Obama said. “Even if the amendment process falls short, it can shine a spotlight of the super-PAC phenomenon and help apply pressure for change.”