Committee sends resolution urging Congress to limit money in politics to rules committee after heated debate

Senate File 569, a resolution urging Congress to adopt a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and to enable limits on political spending, was recommended to pass by the Senate Elections Committee on Feb. 11, 2025, and referred to the Rules Committee following a roll-call vote.

Sponsor Senator Marty argued the resolution is a response to what he described as a campaign-finance system that privileges large donors and suppresses other voices. “If you have a lot of money, you might buy a television network,” Marty said. “When you have unlimited sources of money going in from certain entities, you’re shutting out other voices.” He framed the measure as a statement urging federal action and as a prompt for states to press for reform.

Senator Barr raised skepticism about Congress voluntarily amending the Constitution and said he preferred an approach that would limit contributions to voters’ own jurisdictions. “I don’t think people from New York should be funding state and local elections,” he said, and predicted Congress was unlikely to abandon fundraising practices that link money and committee power.

Other senators voiced support and disagreement in the committee. Senator Sluszynski characterized Citizens United as a catastrophic U.S. Supreme Court decision and urged the committee to take a first step. Senator Lucero said the current system “is not healthy” and commended the resolution as a needed push for reform. Several members discussed whether unions and other associations would be covered; Senator Marty said the language would apply to entities and would require government bodies to regulate or prohibit contributions and expenditures to equalize access to political processes.

The committee took a roll-call vote on Senator Marty’s motion to recommend passage and refer the resolution to the Rules Committee; the clerk recorded 7 ayes and 4 nays and the motion carried. Senator Marty closed by thanking members and acknowledging the long road ahead if the resolution is to spur federal change.

The resolution asks federal and state bodies to adopt rules that could regulate, limit or prohibit contributions and expenditures so that no person’s money gives them substantially more access to or influence over elections. The committee debate highlighted differing views about strategy—pursuing a federal constitutional amendment versus state-level reforms and public-finance options—and returned repeatedly to whether the text should target entities such as corporations and unions in addition to wealthy individuals.