Quote: 

 

Here is the published summary:

 

https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-cong...olution/19

[quote]

Constitutional Amendment - Authorizes Congress and the states to regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.

Grants Congress and the states the power to implement and enforce this amendment by appropriate legislation, and to distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.

Declares that nothing in this amendment shall be construed to grant Congress or the states the power to abridge the freedom of the press.

[end quote]

 

I see a huge conflict of interest when the candidates themselves (the Congress) start making rules governing political speech. 

 

Also, if Congress can regulate raising and spending  money to influence elections, but "nothing in this amendment shall be construed to grant Congress or the states the power to abridge the freedom of the press..." then there is no limit on what a newspaper or TV network can say.   But there is a limit on the amount of advertising I can buy in order to make my own political statement.  That is completely unfair.   Rupert Murdoch has no limit on his speech because he owns Fox, but I have a limit on my speech because I don't own a network. 

 

It's obvious why this is a proposed Constitutional Amendment.   It has to be, because it is in direct conflict with the First Amendment. 

 

Money buys advertising.   Political advertising is free speech and free speech is protected by the First Amendment.  So what this is is an Amendment to limit the First Amendment.    I say a big flat NO to that.   I do not want to repeal any part of the First Amendment. 

 

This is an attempt to limit  the power of people who have a lot of money.  But you cannot do that and maintain a free society.  Money is power, always has been and always will be. 

 

Finally somebody gets it.  However, it does go a little bit further.  A TV network like CBS does have a news division and they can say whatever they want, but a program like Saturday Night Live wouldn't be allowed to air sketches such as Tina Fey portraying Sarah Palin or programs like The Daily Show to air segments regarding politics.  Those programs are not "the press".

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