Revision: Dec. 31, 2018, 1:12 p.m.
HCR 5 - AS INTRODUCED
2019 SESSION
19-0588
11/10
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 5
SPONSORS: Rep. McGhee, Hills. 40; Rep. Petrigno, Hills. 23
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This concurrent resolution requests the United States Congress propose a constitutional amendment reversing the effects of the rulings of the United States Supreme Court in Buckley v. Valeo and Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.
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19-0588
11/10
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Nineteen
Whereas, Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976), saw the United States Supreme Court rule that restricting spending for political communication amounted to a restriction of free speech; and
Whereas, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) saw the United States Supreme Court rule that corporations and unions are constitutionally permitted to support or oppose candidates through political spending; and
Whereas, these recent decisions disproportionately elevate the interest of those able to pay in our elections, at the expense of ordinary Americans; and
Whereas, New Hampshire's citizens rely on free and fair elections and reasonable campaign finance laws to maintain effective self-governance; and
Whereas, the current legal landscape frustrates efforts to reduce the influence of moneyed interests and induces wasting and escalating sums of money to influence elections outcomes; and
Whereas, the corrupting influence of money on our democracy undermines the essential trust of the citizenry in our government; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the state of New Hampshire hereby calls upon the United States Congress to propose and send to the states for ratification a constitutional amendment to reinstate a precedent of 'we, the people' being at the center of our democracy, rather than money; and
That the state of New Hampshire hereby calls upon each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation to actively support and promote in Congress an amendment to the United States Constitution on campaign finance reform and the first amendment that addresses this resolution and joins with all other states who have called for action to restore free and fair elections to our democracy; and
That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the secretary of state, be transmitted to the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the New Hampshire Congressional Delegation.