The "We the People Amendment"

Our nation was founded on the principle that “We, the People,” are to govern ourselves through our elected representatives. But the Supreme Court has extended to corporations constitutional rights meant only for individuals and ruled that money spent to influence elections is protected free speech. Because of these rulings our government today is controlled by, and hence serves, powerful special interests, including global corporations and the very wealthy, instead of all the people.

A necessary step toward government of, by, and for the people is to amend the U.S. Constitution to affirm that:

• The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States are the rights of individual human beings only
• Money spent to influence elections is not protected free speech and may be regulated to ensure equal access to the political process for all Americans

What is your position on such an amendment?

Several bills have been filed in the U.S. Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution to return control of the U.S. government to its citizens, rather than billionaires, special interests, and corporations. Some of the bills would allow Congress to regulate the financing of political campaigns. Other bills would affirm that inalienable constitutional rights apply only to individual living human beings. The only bill that I know of that does both is H..J.Res 48 in the current session (see https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-joint-resolution/48/t...). Eight of the nine Massachusetts Congressmen are cosponsors of H..J.Res 48. After you are elected will you re-file H..J.Res 48 (if it hasn't been re-filed yet) or cosponsor it (if another Congressman has already re-filed it)?