WILPF has joined four other organizations to file a "friend of the court" brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to overturn longstanding rules barring political expenditures by corporations. Whatever the outcome, this case will have a significant impact on our electoral process. It is scheduled to be argued on September 9.

“The notion that corporations have the same speech rights as people under our Bill of Rights is contrary to the words, history, spirit and intent of our Constitution,” said attorney Jeff Clements. “The organizations that joined to bring these arguments to the Court have worked with others for many years to empower democratic self-government. They remind us that corporations do not vote, speak, or act as people do, but are products of government policy to achieve economic and charitable ends. As such, corporations need not be allowed to influence our elections if Congress and state governments judge that such influence is detrimental to democracy.”

The case now before the Court began when a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation calling itself Citizens United challenged the constitutionality of a federal ban on expenditures for “electioneering communications” by corporations and labor unions within sixty days of an election. The ban is part of the federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Under the Act, corporations and labor unions may still contribute to Political Action Committees.

The Supreme Court will hear further argument in the case in September.

A copy of the amicus brief can be read at http://www.clementsllc.com/home/Whats_New.html

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On September 9, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case that could change current legislative restrictions on corporate money in politics. In the case of Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission, the Court will consider overturning federal campaign regulations originally enacted in 1907. The Court may also soon overrule previous decisions that have upheld the constitutionality of legislative restrictions on corporate money in politics.

We need only look at the current debate over health care reform to see the power wielded by insurance and pharmaceutical corporations. If the Supreme Court overrules the findings of the original 1907 case (McConnell and Austin vs. MI Chamber of Commerce), our political and personal lives will suffer.

On August 1st the Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom joined four other organizations in filing an amicus curiae (“friend of the court”) brief with the Supreme Court.

As filing attorney Jeff Clements put it, “The organizations that joined to bring these arguments to the Court have worked with others for many years to empower democratic self-government. They remind us that corporations do not vote, speak, or act as people do, but are products of government policy to achieve economic and charitable ends. As such, corporations need not be allowed to influence our elections if Congress and state governments judge that such influence is detrimental to democracy.”

This is an important case that should be followed closely by all citizens.

For more background information and to take action, go to http://www.wilpf.org/2009AugustCvDWILPFGoesToCourt

A copy of the amicus brief can be read at http://www.clementsllc.com/home/Whats_New.html

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The notion that corporations have the same speech rights as people under our Bill of Rights is contrary to the words, history, spirit and intent of our Constitution.

If the Supreme Court overrules McConnell and Austin vs. MI Chamber of Commerce, First Amendment rights claimed by corporations will be significantly expanded and local, state, and federal governments will be further restricted in the ability to regulate corporations and corporate influence on our democratic processes.

Previous Supreme Court decisions that have upheld the constitutionality of legislative restrictions on corporate money in politics.