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11 communities vote for amendment against Citizens United
Wisconsin voters in 11 communities in the April 5 spring election backed a call to amend the U.S. Constitution to overturn the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court.
The non-binding referenda passed in Janesville (84 percent), Beloit (74 percent), Platteville (84 percent), Monroe (83 percent), New London (81 percent), Lancaster (85 percent), Brodhead (85 percent), Darlington (81 percent), Clarno (85 percent), York (86 percent) and Belmont (88 percent), according to the grassroots campaign United to Amend and Wisconsin United to Amend.
To date, 72 Wisconsin communities have called for an amendment.
Across the country, 16 legislatures have voted in favor of an amendment, as well as about 700 municipalities.
Ray Spellman, who led the campaign in Darlington said, "We are extremely pleased that these referenda passed by such high margins. This clearly demonstrates the will of the people. It is time for our state representatives to put this resolution to a statewide vote, and to move towards sending a resolution from Wisconsin to the U.S. Congress."
Four in five Americans — including 80 percent of Republicans — oppose the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision, according to a Bloomberg poll.
A New York Times/CBS poll in June found 85 percent of Americans — including majorities of Democrats, Republicans and Independents — believe campaign finance system must be fundamentally changed or rebuilt.
Polls consistently show widespread agreement among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans that the campaign finance system is corrupt.
“It is now obvious that we are losing our democracy,” said Nettie McGee of Outagamie County. “The huge money in our political system buys our elections and politicians."
Credit should also go to the statewide volunteer group Wisconsin United To Amend (wiuta.org), which advised local citizen groups in these 11 communites on how to get these resolutions on the ballot. If you’d like your community to be on record against the corruption and legalized bribery that is rampant in our election process, please email .