Sen. Warner and Corporate Personhood

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(I am posting this on behalf of TonyF, who would’ve written this post himself, but is out of town today. -P13)

A friend and long-time Democrat here in Loudoun wrote a letter to Sen. Mark Warner regarding the Citizens United decision. TonyF is a veteran and thoughtful citizen who has been community leader in Leesburg and Loudoun for a long time. He fought hard for Mark Warner throughout the Governor’s career.

Click below to read the Senator’s response to TonyF’s question about Sen. Warner’s position on corporate money in politics.  Here is what the Senator had to say.

Dear Lt. Col.,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the Supreme Court ruling in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) and legislation that has been proposed to address this issue.

On January 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its 5-4 ruling in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission where it found long-standing government restrictions on corporate independent expenditures on elections to be unconstitutional in violation of the First Amendment. However, the majority of the Court did find disclaimer and disclosure requirements constitutional.

I share your concerns regarding the negative impact the Court’s decision may have on future elections. Those with immense resources now have the potential to drown out the voices of individual Americans who wish to actively participate in our democracy. On April 30, 2010, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced the Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections (DISCLOSE) Act (S. 3295) to address this issue. As a member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration I have the opportunity to review S. 3295 and will certainly keep your thoughts in mind.

Again, thank you for writing. As we move forward in the 111th Congress, please continue to be in touch with your opinions and concerns.

Sincerely,

MARK R. WARNER

United States Senator

If you want to ask Sen. Warner to support the DISCLOSE Act, you can contact his office:

459A Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-2023

Fax: 202-224-6295  

3 thoughts on “Sen. Warner and Corporate Personhood”

  1. Dave Nemetz

    From http://www.ombwatch.com, with regard to S. 3295 –

    Many have criticized the legislation for requiring “too much” disclosure. Numerous reactions suggest that the bill will effectively infringe upon First Amendment rights and ultimately chill speech. Some advocacy groups are also concerned that, if enacted, the DISCLOSE Act could potentially deter donors who do not want to be identified in television ads.

    [snip]

    However, the Court in Citizens United upheld disclosure requirements as constitutional. Specifically, the majority opinion said that “disclosure permits citizens and shareholders to react to the speech of corporate entities in a proper way. This transparency enables the electorate to make informed decisions and give proper weight to different speakers and messages.”

    Good. SCOTUS opinion in favor of disclosure. Transparency is always helpful. And now, with the Citizens United decision, a necessity.

  3. Paradox13

    I think this speech from Mark Warner when he was Governor is worth revisiting.

    I am a Democrat because since Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence – and since Jackson spoke for the common man – our party has never been the party of the status quo.

    Instead, we have been the ones to see a challenge – and do something about it. Let’s be honest – it hasn’t always worked perfectly. Sometimes it has gotten us in trouble. Sometimes it has split us apart. But sometimes, those are the wages of progress.

    And yet, I am a Democrat because the greatest and most noble political experiments of our time had their birth in our party.

    I am a Democrat because the New Deal literally saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

    I am a Democrat because a generation after a Democratic president started the Peace Corps, you can still find faded photographs of John F. Kennedy on the walls of homes from South Africa to South America.

    I am a Democrat because fighting for working men and women is always the right fight.

    I am a Democrat because our party led the struggle for civil rights and because we recognize that discrimination and bigotry are not dead – and that we must continue to seek equal opportunity for all.

    I am a Democrat because despite our failures, our missteps, and our excesses – we know that waging a war on poverty does not mean fighting the individuals who are poor.

    I am a Democrat because we know that today’s battle is about the future versus the past – and it’s time to put aside yesterday’s battles of us versus them.

    I am a Democrat because we know that criticizing success won’t create a single job.

    And most of all, I am a Democrat because when my three daughters go out into the world to make their lives, I want them to find a world where there’s less hopelessness – less selfishness – and less violence.

    I want them to find a world where there is more opportunity – more understanding – and more hope.

    That is the mission of this party.

    That is what we work for.

    That is why we get up every morning.

    That is why we’re here tonight.

    And our work is not done.

    Yeah, what he said.

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