HJM6 approved by Senate today

[davidafd]

Oregon today became the 16th state to pass a resolution called on Congress to adapt and send to the states a constitutional amendment when the Senate voted 17-13 in favor of HJM6-A Engrossed HJM6-A Engrossed. This follows the Oregon House of Representatives June 21st 80% bi-partisan majority vote in favor. One Republican (Betsy Close of Corvallis/Albany) joined all 16 Democrats and voted in favor in the Senate.

Our resolution called on Congress to send Oregon an amendment which addresses both court-created doctrines that money is speech and that corporations are people with the clear statement that neither is true and will, henceforth, be unconstitutional.

The Oregonians to Restore Constitutional Democracy coalition, which presented the resolution to the Oregon Legislature and celebrates this victory, consisted of the Alliance for Democracy, Common Cause Oregon, all of the Oregon affiliates of Move to Amend (Bend * Corvallis * Eugene * Jackson County (Ashland, Talent,and Jacksonville) * Marion-Polk (Salem) * Portland), Rural Organizing Project, Main Street Alliance of Oregon, Oregon PeaceWorks and Tax Fairness Oregon.

The resolved section (slightly weaker than the original language which we submitted to the legislature) reads:

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:

That we, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon, respectfully urge the Congress of the United States of America to propose and send to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution consistent with the findings of this memorial, clarifying the distinction between the rights of natural persons and the rights of corporations and other legal entities; and be it further Resolved,

That the proposed amendment to the United States Constitution should clarify that Congress and state legislatures may regulate all moneys raised and spent for political purposes; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Oregon Congressional Delegation.