United to amend on Election Day

Wisconsin voters in 18 communities voted on Election Day to support the effort to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn Citizens United.

“People across the ideological spectrum get it: All of our voices are being drowned out by those with big money,” said Matt Rothschild, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign.

In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the U.S. Supreme Court held 5-4 that the First Amendment guarantee of free speech prohibits the government from restricting independent political expenditures by a nonprofit organization.

Amendment questions were approved Nov. 8 — by majorities as high as 91 percent — in Rock County, Reedsburg, Manitowoc, Delafield, Neshkoro, New Glarus, Spring Valley, Osceola, Mount Horeb, Monticello, Clayton, New Glarus, Harris, Springdale, Decatur, Mount Pleasant, Cadiz and Lake Tomahawk.

To date, 96 Wisconsin communities — home to 2.8 million people — have backed a constitutional amendment.

Nationwide, 18 state legislatures and more than 700 municipalities have voted to amend.

“This clearly demonstrates the will of the people,” said Jeanette Kelty, a leader of the amendment movement in Green County. “It is time for our state representatives to put this resolution to a statewide vote, and to move toward sending a resolution from Wisconsin to the U.S. Congress.”