Bill Text: OR HJM6 | 2013 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Urging Congress to propose constitutional amendment to limit certain political contributions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-07-08 - Filed with Secretary of State. [HJM6 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HJM6-Introduced.html

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     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
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 LC 1768

                     House Joint Memorial 6

Sponsored by Representative CLEM (at the request of Marion County
  Move to Amend) (Presession filed.)

                             SUMMARY

The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.

  Urges Congress to propose constitutional amendment to limit
certain political contributions.

                         JOINT MEMORIAL
To the President of the United States and the Senate and the
  House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
  Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas the United States Constitution does not mention
corporations and is intended to guarantee rights for human beings
only; and
  Whereas corporations, limited liability companies and
partnerships, associations and other entities established under
and granted privileges by local, state and federal laws make
important contributions to our society, but are not to be equated
with individual persons or granted constitutional rights; and
  Whereas money is property and not speech, and the Congress of
the United States, state legislatures and local legislative
bodies should have the authority to regulate political
contributions and expenditures; and
  Whereas based on the American value of fair play, leveling the
playing field and ensuring that all citizens, regardless of
wealth, have an opportunity to have their political views heard,
there is a valid rationale for regulating political spending; and
  Whereas Article V of the United States Constitution provides
for amendments to the Constitution, a process that has occurred
27 times, including seven constitutional amendments that may be
reasonably interpreted as overturning decisions of the Supreme
Court of the United States; and
  Whereas constitutional amendments should be proposed without a
timeline for their adoption; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:
  (1) The Congress of the United States of America is
respectfully urged to propose and send to the states for
ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution,
consistent with the findings outlined in this memorial, that
establishes that statutory entities do not have constitutional
rights and that legislatures may regulate money that is raised
and spent for political purposes.
  (2) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader and the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
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