28 Reasons Why We Need A 28th Amendment

In case you haven't heard, a movement to amend the Constitution is happening. Really, happening. On June 3rd the Senate Judiciary Committee wIll be hearing arguments on the need to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Supreme Court’s insane decisions in Citizens United, the recent McCutcheon decision, and related cases of which allowed unlimited corporate money in our elections. Here are 28 Reasons why the Senate should get on board with the rest of us and support the 28th Amendment.

1. First of all, we all know that Citizens United was a bad idea.

Via washingtonpost.com

A Washington Post poll showed that 8 in 10 respondents say they opposed the January 2010 decision in Citizens United.

2. So was the recent McCutcheon Vs. Fec Supreme Court Ruling.

Via washingtonpost.com

In April the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the McCutcheon vs. FEC Supreme Court case. This ruling effectively tossed out key campaign contribution limits and will effectively bring even more money into the political system.

3. And it's been pretty hard to tell the difference lately.

4. As a result of these rulings, political candidates have gotten more money from a smaller percentage of the population than any year for which data is available.

Via sunlightfoundation.com

5. Even the super lobbyists in D.C. are saying that money in politics is a problem.

Via freespeechforpeople.org

6. 1/3 Of The Country Is On Board With Passing An Amendment.

Via freespeechforpeople.com

16 States in the U.S have already passed resolutions calling for a constitutional amendment including Oregon, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Montana, and more.

7. Parties across the aisle pretty much agree too.

Via freespeechforpeople.org

8. And the current Amendment being proposed (S.J. Res 19) already has 40 Senate co-sponsors.

9. Actress Debra Winger supports it.

buzzfeed.com

As academy award nominated actress Debra Winger put it in this new interview, "I support overturning Citizens United because there is nothing in it that involves the Citizens."

10. The People Are Getting Restless.

In January Hundreds of people marched in the 185-mile trek through the rain, sleet and snow in New Hampshire as part of the NH Rebellion making a strong statement that we have had ENOUGH with corruption in politics.

11. The cause of Campaign Finance Reform prompted an 89-year old woman, Granny D, to walk across the entire U.S in a year.

Via penbaypilot.com

Shortly before Granny D’s 100th birthday, when the Supreme Court produced the Citizens United decision, she wrote: “The Supreme Court …has made things considerably worse by undoing the modest reforms I walked for and went to jail for and that tens of thousands of other Americans fought very hard to see enacted. The Supreme Court now opens the floodgates to usher in a new tsunami of corporate money into politics.”

12. Over a 150 rallies occurred within hours of the McCutcheon vs. Fec ruling.

freespeechforpeople.org / Via freespeechforpeople.org

13. Kai Newkirk's epic statement about money in politics that made history in the Supreme Court room.

99 Rise

14. A former Justice of the Supreme Court has publicly testified for an amendment.

Via c-span.org

Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens testified on Capitol Hill at a Senate hearing on the need to end big money influence in government.

15. Even a current Supreme Court Justice has admitted money in politics is a problem.

Via Public Campaign

16. This guy's sign:

photo credit Holly Mosher

17. This:

Via Photo Credit: Lindsay Van Dyke

18. And this...

19. Congress is encouraged to spend half their day raising money aka "call time."

Via huffingtonpost.com

20. Studies have proven that money DOES Equal Access in Washington.

Via washingtonpost.com

A field experiment that measured how campaign donations, or even the prospect of them, alter the behavior of members of Congress and their staff. The results proved they did.

21. No wonder why three in four people think wealthy Americans have a better chance than others of influencing the election process.

Via cbsnews.com

22. It's Getting Worse. Now Corporations are now seeking the rights of religious freedom in a new Supreme Court case, Hobby Lobby vs. Fec.

On March 25th, the Supreme Court heard arguments from both Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood Specialities and will ultimately decide if corporations may assert the right of religious freedom, along with the “free speech right” to spend unlimited corporate money in our elections, as the Court ruled in the 2010 Citizens United case.

23. Yes, a craft store wants to tell its employees whether or not they can have access to contraceptives because of a corporation's religion.

24. So even though 97% of people want to end corruption in politics,

Via represent.us

25. it's not going to end itself.

26. And we can't fix the environment (or any other issue), until we fix our government.

Forget polars bears. We can't begin to think about fighting against climate change when corporate money influences the way politicians think.

27. Most of all, these rulings continue to undermine the constitutional promise of political equality.

28. To take it back, supporting S.J. Res 19, is the American thing to do.

Click here to learn more and show your support.

Click here to reach out to your Senator to support S.J. Res 19.

UPDATE: On June 3rd, 2 million petition signatures were delivered to Senate Hearing Committee calling for a 28th Amendment.

tytnetwork.com / Via The Young Turks/Wolf Pac

So, just in case anyone needed 2 million reasons more, here you go.

Tell Us In The Comments: Why Do You Think We Need A 28th Amendment?