FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Harrisburg, Pa.) — Today, a resolution calling on Congress to drastically change campaign finance regulations was introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, as part of a bicameral, bipartisan effort to repair our electoral system.
Sponsored by Megan Schroeder (R-Bucks), the resolution urges members of Congress to support the For Our Freedom Amendment – a constitutional amendment that would explicitly grant states the right to make campaign finance regulations for federal races within their own borders.
Schroeder’s resolution mirror a resolution that was introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate earlier this month.
Supreme Court precedent prohibits states (and Congress) from setting any limits on “independent spending” to influence state or federal elections, which is why a constitutional amendment is necessary. Using the “independent spending” loophole, billions of dollars driving divisive election-influence operations has flooded into state and federal elections from corporations, unions, wealthy donors and even foreign government-influenced operations. This is why a constitutional amendment is necessary. Any federal or state legislative solution would be preempted by the existing Supreme Court precedent. Eight of the 27 amendments so far in the United States’ Constitution corrected Supreme Court decisions that compromised the integrity and future of the republic.
“Every year that passes without substantive change to the campaign finance system does damage to our trust in the political process,” said American Promise Executive Director Bill Cortese. “Hundreds of millions of dollars are going to be spent on elections in Pennsylvania this year and we have no idea where it’s coming from, who it’s coming from, or why. This is not how representative democracy is supposed to function.”
Public opinion polling supports massive change to the electoral system. Over 90% of Americans believe that government only represents a few big interests, not the good of the people or the country.
After its passage in Congress, the For Our Freedom Amendment would have to be ratified by state legislatures across the country, several of which have already passed resolutions similar to the one introduced in the PA House today.