Kurt's Work

WASHINGTON – Seeking to address the long-term damaging implications of the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision, Congressman Kurt Schrader (OR-05) today reintroduced a constitutional amendment to affirm the authority of Congress and the States to regulate political expenditures.

“Over the past two centuries, the United States has fought corruption in government to build a democracy based on the simple principle of one-person-one-vote. The Citizens United ruling has caused serious harm to this hard won balance and has opened the floodgates for shadowy donors with deep pockets to have an outsized role in our elections,” said Congressman Schrader.

“By defining corporations as people and equating money with speech, the Supreme Court has said those with vast resources have the right to drown out the voices of ordinary citizens in our democratic process. This amendment recognizes the authority of Congress to provide equal protection for all citizens to participate freely and equitably in the democratic process. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to return accountability and transparency to our elections.”

Congressman Schrader’s amendment stems the unlimited flow of money in politics in the following ways:

·         Gives Congress the power to prohibit, limit, and otherwise regulate contributions to candidates for Federal office and the expenditure of funds used to    support political media advertisements.

·         Gives States the same power in relation to candidates standing for election in that State.

Congressman Schrader has introduced the amendment every session of Congress since being elected. View the text of the bill HERE.