H.3842 - Resolutions for a United States constitutional amendment and a limited amendment proposing

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Background: In the decade since the Supreme Court’s 2010 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, approximately $700 million has poured into Massachusetts elections and ballot initiatives. This compares with $260 million in the ten years before a 5-4 majority in Citizens United recognized a “free speech” right of unlimited independent spending to influence elections. The growth in election spending in Massachusetts is reflected across the United States. The 2016 federal election cost more than $6.4 billion, double the money spent in the 2000 federal races.

What this bill would do: H.3842 (Co-filed with Rep. David Viera) would mandate that, if Congress does not act within six months of the passage of this legislation, Massachusetts would petition for an Article V Convention for the limited purpose of passing a constitutional amendment to allow the federal and state governments to regulate campaign finance . This would mirror action already taken by other states. This is one of two bills that Rep. Gentile has filed this session to reverse the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision.