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Committee backs policy statement for ballot urging repeal of corporate personhood and limits on campaign spending
Summary
The Rules Committee voted to send a policy declaration to the November ballot urging limits on campaign contributions and opposing corporate personhood (Citizens United). Supervisor John Avalos sponsored the statement and the committee moved the item forward with a positive recommendation.
The San Francisco Rules Committee on July 16 voted to place a policy declaration on the November ballot that calls on Congress to support a constitutional amendment reversing the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and that affirms corporations should not receive the same constitutional rights as natural persons.
Supervisor John Avalos, the sponsor, described the declaration as a policy statement asking San Francisco voters to urge federal action: the resolution includes four main parts including an affirmation that the Bill of Rights protect individual human beings and that Citizens United poses a threat to democratic processes. Avalos said the ruling has allowed unlimited corporate spending to dominate elections and argued the city should call for a constitutional amendment.
Why it matters: supporters, including Common Cause, said the statement is a way for local voters to express support for national reform on campaign finance and corporate personhood. Public commenter Helen Grieco, representing Common Cause, said money in politics has broken democratic processes and urged supervisors to send the policy declaration to the voters.
What was discussed: Supervisors Campos and Avalos emphasized the constitutional and democratic concerns raised by Citizens United. Supervisor Campos noted dissenting justices’ concerns about corporate advantages such as limited liability and perpetual life and urged city leadership to take a stand. Chair Jane Kim said she generally dislikes policy statements on ballots because they do not create binding local policy, but she supported the intention and the committee’s decision to move the measure forward.
Outcome and next steps: Supervisor Campos moved to forward the policy declaration with a positive recommendation to the full Board; the motion was seconded and the committee advanced the item without opposition. The measure will appear on the November ballot as a policy statement and is intended to signal San Francisco voters’ support for a federal constitutional amendment to limit corporate personhood and campaign spending.
Election timing: the resolution as introduced notes an election date of November 6, 2012 for voter consideration.
