Stamford Groups Attempt to Tackle 'Citizens United' Issue

In the Republican Caucus Room of the , members of the Board of Representative's State and Commerce Committee met to discuss a single issue on the agenda, Item number SC28.015.

The item seeks a resolution "calling for the passage of a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United." The issue at hand is how corporations are involved in financing political elections and to what extent personal protections of the constitution extend to corporate entities.

The concern is that a small group of corporations will control politics in a way that the greater commonality of people could never influence in an equal manner.

The board decided early on there would be no formal decision made that evening, but instead opened the floor to conversation about what action should be taken next. Should they contact a lawyer or representative of Citizen's United? Was is necessary? Should they simply follow in the footsteps of the towns that have gone before them to make similar amendments?

In 2010, the Supreme Court decided that restrictions on corporate financing would infringe upon the constitutional rights of the corporation. A across towns in America calling for state-level reaction to the decision.

A resolution passed by the Common Council of the City of Middleton "to remove the overt influence of money on our political system and stand with other communities throughout America to protect our democratic system" was presented as a framework for possibility.

"As a municipality and a group of people, how do we feel about Citizens United?" asked Mitchell Kaufman, committee chair. "And do we draft our own amendment to the constitution?"

While Kaufman discussed the concerns of "corporate money being laundered" anonymously into the political system and those that oppose it facing the deep pockets of unchecked corporate constitutionality, the League of Women Voters was meeting with Jeff Clements, author of "Corporations Are Not People," at the Harry Bennett Library.

"We the people have the right to decide the rules to go along with corporate politics," Clements, whose mother is a Stamford resident, said to the library full of people. "Build this movement across the country so we can do all the things we need to do. The resolution should be about overturning Citizens United and restoring fair and balanced elections to the people."

Clements didn't bite his tongue, stating his opinion quite clearly.

"Corporations don't have constitutional rights," he said. "People have constitutional rights. I don't want to beat around the bush. Corporations are not mentioned in the Constitution."

Barbara Rosenberg, 71, of Stamford, was in the packed crowd at the library, where the League was meeting for the forum. She was excited about the message being spread further and the interest from her fellow residents.

"It appears that the system is broken," Rosenberg said. "It's broken because the average person doesn't care enough to find out what the issues are and make an informed, educated choice. We have to care."

She said everyone can have an impact.

"Anyone who thinks they are too small," she quipped, "Has never been in bed with a mosquito."

Clements was happy so many people turned out for the forum.

"I get encouraged and inspired by people who come out and are so dedicated to restoring democracy in America," he said. "People willingly dealing with complicated questions and not allowing American freedom and self expression to expire."

When asked why the meeting was held in a library the night of the committee meeting, instead of having a gathering at the committee meeting itself, representatives said it was a matter of scheduling conflict.