I have often complained about “money in politics” and the outsized influence it creates in our elections. Recently, I learned about a constitutional amendment that would allow us to change this system. The amendment is called the “Constitutional Campaign Finance Reform Amendment” and it was just introduced in Congress this June.
The founding fathers of our great Nation built a mechanism into our Constitution that allows us to change it. We have already added twenty-seven amendments to the Constitution, strengthening our nation one amendment at a time. It’s time to do it again. Next week, we celebrate Constitution Day (Sep 17), a perfect opportunity to begin the process of changing the Constitution to let our individual voices be heard as loudly as super PACs, corporations and billionaires.
A massive flood of outside money, including foreign-linked money, is pouring into our elections and drowning out the voices of everyday Americans. This is happening because decades of Supreme Court decisions have stripped voters and our elected lawmakers of the ability to protect our elections from big-money influence. Twenty-five states have already called for a constitutional amendment to restore the ability of Congress and States to set reasonable limits on money in elections. Letter l
On Constitution Day, the best way to honor the Constitution is to strengthen it. Talk with your neighbors, contact your elected officials and urge them to support and help make this amendment a reality.
Ronald S. Kemalyan
Solvang
