Pay-to-play politics is killing our democracy — we can save it using the Constitution 

Record-breaking A $16 billion election cycleIn 2015, a range of lawmakers are attempting to address growing voter demand for reasonable limits on campaign finances. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) has proposed: Act to end corporate influence in elections; Listed companies Super PACs and so-called “independent expenditures” Influencing the election, multiple House invoice Senate and legislation In seeking to reduce foreign spending in our elections, these lawmakers are heeding voters’ calls to curb the corrupting influence of billionaires, global corporations and foreign powers.

Since 2010, when the Supreme Court increased election spending dramatically, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission This decision paved the way for corporations, labor unions, and dark money special interests to pour unlimited funds into elections. Now, billions of dollars are poured into every election as spending rules and anti-corruption guardrails continue to be dismantled.

Look at last month’s Federal Election Commission decision It allows candidates to raise unlimited funds to influence ballot initiatives, which are a law-making process for voters. 26 stateswas originally adopted as a reform during the last Gilded Age to allow the public to avoid or curb a corrupt Congress. Like everything in American politics today, the ballot initiative process is too heavily controlled by those with money to spend.

Lawmakers should be commended for trying to confront the pernicious effects of unchecked money in our political system, but unless we address why so much money in the hands of so few people sway elections, things will continue to get worse.

This is a constitutional issue and requires a constitutional solution.

Over the past few decades, in cases like Citizens United, the Supreme Court has essentially rewritten the Constitution, deciding that the First Amendment prohibits Americans from having fair and equitable spending rules to protect the integrity of elections and the vote across the nation. For the first 200 years of American history, no one thought the First Amendment took away Americans’ right to limit spending in elections. Now, a small number of lawyers and judges have decided otherwise, and people across America are paying the price.

For example, 86% of Maine voters voted in November. Foreign Government Owned Prohibits foreign entities, or companies they control, from spending money to influence elections. Spent $100 million Federal courts have issued preliminary injunctions in state elections over the past three years. Blocking the law, He explained that the law likely violates Citizens United.

Foreign influence is a threat to autonomy. Foreigners exploit loan shark groups Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) have introduced their own bill, which would allow them to funnel funds to local, state and federal election campaigns under the guise of domestic organizations. legislation Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to curb foreign influence in elections, citing clear national security risks associated with a lack of transparency in campaign finance systems. write “It cannot be denied that foreign agents and individuals with their own agendas have the potential to influence our electoral process and, ultimately, our daily lives.”

These threats compel us to make lasting reforms that guarantee freedom of elections, freedom of representation, and freedom of speech. We must amend our Constitution.

The amendment would recognize that the American people and their representatives at the state and congressional levels can place reasonable limits on political funding. America’s PromiseThe organization I founded Our Freedom AmendmentThe amendment enjoys broad support across the nation and across the political spectrum. Twenty-two states have asked their legislatures to adopt it, and public opinion polls show 73% of Republicans and 78% of Democrats We support that.

Our Founding Fathers gave us the process for amending the Constitution to protect against harmful forces that threaten our freedom and ability to govern ourselves. Throughout our history, constitutional amendments have brought about major changes to elections. 27 Amendments Constitutional amendments have refined voting procedures, expanded voter participation, and brought government closer to the people it represents. If left unchecked, our current money-driven political system threatens the hard work of generations of Americans and the very foundations of our democracy.

Voters are losing their ability to hold their elected leaders accountable, and unchecked campaign finance is fueling distrust in governing institutions, encouraging actual or alleged corruption among those in power, undermining the ability of government to work for the people, and not just being held accountable by those writing big checks. That’s why Americans are increasingly View Candidates are beholden to wealthy donors; Two-thirds of the electorate Lawmakers from both parties believe reducing the influence of money in politics should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year.

American Promise is this month’s National Civic Leadership ConferenceCitizens from across the nation will be gathering in Washington to engage with their Congressional representatives and share their vision for advancing the Freedom Amendment. If our representatives and other candidates are truly committed to restoring the public’s faith in government and addressing unchecked political spending, Pledge your support With regard to the “For Our Liberties Amendment,” Congress must obtain the necessary two-thirds vote and send the amendment back to the states for prompt ratification.

Jeff Clements is CEO of American Promise, a bipartisan organization with a singular vision: to ratify the For Our Freedom Amendment so states and Congress can set reasonable limits on political spending and ensure the voice of every American is respected.