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House rejects resolution urging Congress to propose constitutional amendment in response to Citizens United
Summary
House Joint Resolution 11, calling on Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to limit corporate political spending after Citizens United, failed on second reading amid divided floor debate.
House Joint Resolution 11, introduced by Representative Staffman, asked Montana’s congressional delegation and Congress to consider a constitutional amendment that would clarify that constitutional rights are those of human beings and that money is not constitutionally protected political speech; the House failed to advance the resolution on a recorded vote.
Representative Staffman described Citizens United as permitting “independent spending by corporations, unions, packs, and super packs into our political system, all under the premise that corporations and unions are people and that money is speech.” He cited historical Montana laws such as the state’s early Corrupt Practices Act and a 2012 Supreme Court decision that struck down state restrictions.
Representative Millett opposed the resolution and said it would “seek to amend our constitution to undermine the very foundation of free speech in our political system,” warning that wealthy individuals would still be able to influence elections by other means and that the amendment would risk curbing protected political expression.
The committee motion to recommend the resolution failed on a recorded vote of 49 in favor and 51 opposed; the transcript records the clerk's tally reflecting the failed second‑reading committee report.
