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Senate subcommittee adopts resolution denouncing Citizens United, urges limits on corporate election spending
Summary
The Senate Judiciary subcommittee advanced SJR 18, a nonbinding resolution introduced by Senator McNerney condemning the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and encouraging state actions to limit corporate spending in elections; the committee voted 10‑2 to report the resolution out.
Senator McNerney urged the Senate Judiciary subcommittee to adopt Senate Joint Resolution 18, calling the Citizens United decision harmful to democratic participation and urging states to pursue limits on corporate election spending. McNerney cited precedent in Buckley v. Valeo and data from OpenSecrets showing outside spending rose from about $574 million in 2008 to roughly $4.6 billion in 2024, framing SJR 18 as a statement of principle rather than a binding legal change.
The measure drew verbal support from Senator Gomez Reyes, who said she shares the public’s concern about the volume of corporate money in politics and that reforms are needed so “it’s the people who get to decide.” McNerney closed by asking the subcommittee for an aye vote, saying the resolution sends a message to Congress that Citizens United was ill advised.
The subcommittee took a formal motion and recorded roll-call votes; the record shows SJR 18 was advanced on a 10‑to‑2 vote and was reported out of the subcommittee for further consideration. No primary witnesses in opposition appeared during the hearing; the chair noted no additional me‑too testimony was presented.
Why it matters: SJR 18 is a symbolic statement that channels member concern about money in politics and could underpin later proposals at the state level to restrict corporate political expenditures or to pursue constitutional changes. The resolution does not itself alter campaign finance law but signals the Legislature’s priorities going into the rest of the session.
Next steps: The subcommittee reported SJR 18 out of committee. Further action would depend on the full Senate and any subsequent referrals; the committee record indicates the item was placed on the calendar for continued processing.
