BILL NUMBER: HR 37	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Wieckowski

                        APRIL 10, 2014

   Relative to campaign contributions.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
             HOUSE OR SENATE RESOLUTIONS DO NOT CONTAIN A DIGEST



   WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's decision in Citizens
United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) 558 U.S. 310 upset
longstanding precedent limiting the political influence of
corporations; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court's decision in McCutcheon
v. Federal Election Commission, No. 12-536 (April 2, 2014) further
eviscerates our nation's campaign finance laws by overturning nearly
40 years of law upholding aggregate limits on campaign contributions;
and
   WHEREAS, Aggregate contribution limits restrict the total amount
of money a donor may contribute to all federal candidates and other
political committees in an election cycle; and
   WHEREAS, In holding that aggregate contribution limits are invalid
under the First Amendment, McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission
creates a legal loophole that allows an individual donor to
contribute millions of dollars to political parties and individual
candidates; and
   WHEREAS, The United States Supreme Court has long recognized that
campaign finance laws are necessary not only to eliminate quid pro
quo corruption in elections by preventing the direct exchange of
money for official action, but also to curtail undue influence by
wealthy donors; and
   WHEREAS, The democratic process depends on unfettered
communication between the people and their elected representatives so
that the government may act in response to prevailing public
opinion; and
   WHEREAS, Campaign finance laws that allow limitless contributions
subvert this political process by enabling the voices of the few to
override the collective voice of the many; and
   WHEREAS, Removing aggregate contribution limits also engenders an
appearance of corruption that undermines the public's faith in its
government; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
Assembly respectfully disagrees with the majority opinion and
decision of the United States Supreme Court in McCutcheon v. Federal
Election Commission; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Assembly calls upon the United States Congress
to restore constitutional rights and fair elections to all people,
not merely to those who can afford it; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.