A coalition of advocates in Massachusetts are submitting signatures for a November ballot initiative today with a goal of eliminating corporate spending in elections. WAMC’s Berkshire Bureau Chief Lucas Willard has more….
Davio Danielson spoke to WAMC today on his way to Boston to deliver a box of signatures…
Danielson is a volunteer organized with the Democracy Amendment Coalition of Massachusetts. The coalition, consisting of advocacy groups and grassroots organizers, today are submitting the 20,000 required signatures to introduce a ballot question for Massachusetts voters this fall.
The initiative seeks to gather support against corporate financing of elections, creation of Super PACs, and the flood of campaign donations associated with 2010’s Citizens United Supreme Court Decision. In order to reverse the decision, Congress will have to amend the US Constitution. Pam Wilmott of Coalition member group Common Cause Massachusetts says that ballot question for the Bay State is what’s known as a public policy question.
According to Wilmott, 68 cities and towns in Massachusetts have passed language rejecting the Supreme Court’s decision. Voters in 33 state representative districts and six senate districts in the Commonwealth will be able to vote on the ballot question. Wilmott continues…
Wilmott added that the ballot measure has seen strong support from members of both political parties.
Other groups in the Democracy Amendment Coalition have been working on a legislative resolution that would affirm Massachusetts’ support for a Constitutional amendment. John Bonifaz is Co-Founder and Executive Director of group Free Speech For People…
Bonifaz added that those who may not support the call to amend the Constitution might think that it’s impossible, but he disagrees.
The Coalition expects support for a Constitutional amendment in Massachusetts to grow as Election Day nears.
