Twelve Wisconsin Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: George Penn, 608-244-6436 / geo_penn@charter.net

Twelve Wisconsin Communities Vote to Amend the U.S. Constitution

Madison, WI (November 5, 2014) – On Tuesday, November 4th, twelve communities voted in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to make clear that money is not speech and that only real people should have inalienable Constitutional rights. This would reverse the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, which opened the floodgates to big money in elections.

Eleven referenda passed with solid majorities: Milwaukee County (70%), Dunn County (72%), Green Bay (77%), Appleton (74%), Fond du Lac (73%), Neenah (79%), Menasha (80%), Ripon (79%), Oregon (79%), Wausau (77%), Stoughton (82%), and the Village of Park Ridge (83%).

This brings the total number of Wisconsin communities that have called for an amendment to 54. In total, 2.4 million people (41% of Wisconsinites) live in these jurisdictions. Across the country, 16 state legislatures have voted for an amendment, as well as almost 600 towns, villages, cities and other organizations.

After the votes were counted, Betty Kossik, the resolution campaign leader in Green Bay 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.”

Polls have shown widespread disapproval of Citizens United across the political spectrum. According to an August 2014 poll, more than three quarters (78%) of voters feel that reducing the influence of money in politics is an important issue.

“Money in politics affects our lives everyday”, said Donna Richards of Fond du Lac. “We pay too much for healthcare. Our taxes go towards corporate welfare and wars, instead of education and protecting our environment. Our energy policy is dictated by Big Oil, and we can’t even pass reasonable gun background checks because the gun manufacturers have bought half of Congress. This isn’t what democracy looks like.”

“We need the power of the people to change this situation,” said Katie Schierl, a leader of the petition drive in Neenah and Menasha. “That’s the only way it’s going to happen. This movement is growing all across America – it’s going viral. Everybody, including the politicians, sees the status quo needs to change.”

Marcia Engen, a Move To Amend leader in Appleton agreed. “Congress won’t fix our broken political process by itself. If we want real change, We the People have to stand up and demand it.”

Move To Amend is a non-partisan, grassroots movement. For more information: http://www.wimta.org/