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Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) tells Alan why he wants to amend the Constitution to make it clear that corporations are not people.
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Want to -- content -- Deutsch of Florida.
Who did this the outlook corporate cash.
Undermine the public interest in our elections and democracy -- Amendment that we just call it for sure the -- give an amendment right congressman.
And spectacularly -- held -- We had like we had depth.
The senator Sanders on last week and I -- you -- this is the same amendment Greg junior working together on the and there are few other ones as well to talk about a yours is different.
And others a number of -- efforts to overturn the Citizens United decision.
And this comes out of the occupied movement that how is -- different -- what else is out there.
Sure.
I appreciate -- they're they're a lot but there are out period who is really important movement -- -- the twentieth amendment -- Citizens United.
What's different about BR -- available work hard to do is is it is don't -- opened that are important.
It -- clear what they're for all the corporation are not people with Dana White the and I have never intended because of the framers of the constitution.
Number two.
-- it.
-- -- This is the most important is what sets it apart it -- -- corporate dollars elections.
It caused quite clearly the -- profit corporations cannot use their money influence yeah elections.
And out and that's when no matter -- -- whether you're not by law -- -- the weather here.
A senior in my district -- believed that we continue to talk about cutting beverage or Europe but that attacked some people companies continue.
Everybody read the corporations have too much power and possible to get the money out.
So one.
Of what what are they got what -- they opportunity for this to happen what are the chances there's actually taking home.
It is -- Republican it is it's.
The heavy -- command the kind of future we need.
I'm weakly to third for the Al got to the got that record for the -- direct state cigarette fire.
It could be it's not have been a time real soon on the other hand could seriously we don't sense debt.
Democracy is getting away from an awful lot of Americans.
And we've seen such -- Kuwait and positive response to that.
They're working their push this forward and and even along the way -- it passes.
There's going to be the opportunity to do a lot of other important things to acquire corporations to disclose them and -- -- past -- what we do returning power back and.
What -- the argument that corporations have the right it is free speech they have the right.
In their free speech rights to do is they wish to contribute to the political future this country.
Sure that.
That's exactly that's -- where the Supreme Court where did Citizens United.
Am the only way to deal with secure is to amend the constitution -- you do it statutorily.
To -- -- corporations have the right.
To do that.
Well because the rights granted by the constitutional were writes that.
There were granted to people they work rights that were granted to two corporations that are formed for the purposes of making money.
And corporations.
Corporate and -- groups of people it's it's the people who work for corporations want to participate in election by all means they should do it.
But the corporation itself shouldn't -- able to use all that money that it raises to make money.
To go ahead and and -- -- outcome elections.
What would be I mean the best -- -- reform election laws we have to go way beyond this I would think.
-- your trailer to get all private money out of elections and one of them and all the attempts to do this over the years have failed.
-- we have -- gonna get there.
And I thank you if you if you look at what.
Occupied movement that has been French if you look at the attention they're bringing to.
The -- income inequality in this country right now the massive student loan debt -- financial manipulation and almost brought down our economy which.
So much of it gets back to the fact that.
There's all this money in the process which.
It -- reports are difficult it's it's a unique opportunity.
Shouldn't Citizens United there's been a batch of amount of money pouring into campaign pouring into elections we saw 2010.
Our Karl Rove and Coke Brothers and others are talking about spending half a billion dollars this campaign we have to do it and we have to act fast.
You know the right Rangel say well you guys on the left have labor unions they put all this money and so we have to unable to do the same thing if you're gonna have the unions organize and pour money we need the same opportunity.
-- end it there and didn't hear the difference.
A corporation.
Is this -- for the -- -- making money it's not it's not a person that I group of people.
Oh wait for you didn't just like Leo IRA the other thing that there are -- all right let's talk about.
A -- -- -- groups of people both of them and Sierra Club.
You know and people all should be able whether one person or group of people should be able to purchase big election but the other -- that -- amendment does he gives congress the -- -- regularly -- out of money spent by any individual or any group of people stuck in other ways that we can try to restore some subset.
Isn't so good like unions are in the Sierra club for example might be able to contribute.
But -- profit making corporations could not.
Property corporation -- contributor and everybody would agree they have no place -- in politics.
Are but individuals or groups of individuals failed.
But we need to regulate it through the idea that.
There -- these nonprofit groups that spend millions of dollars we obviously needed to corporate money out and we also needed to regulate those.
That -- what you're guilty -- we passed without commitment to constitutional.
Let's talk about what it takes to passed amendment of the constitution Sullivan and a handful of times it's not easy it is -- -- almost every case it's unlikely.
Yeah the past -- I think is that -- -- equal rights amendment the court memo which but never ratified.
If you think about all of the important legislation.
It came as a result of that discussion taking place.
I think we're gonna keep the same thing here first there's going to be your real focus on what we can do now.
Disclosure requirement that we can put -- placed it to shine a light on and so that is cheaper money.
Other steps that we can take two to separate bodies from government contract but then there's gonna be real patient and it.
That the only way to really combat is only way to get the money out due to amend the constitution that's -- -- there -- critical of on the walker.
How much congressional support you have right now.
What we're we got that growing commercial scored only -- a few weeks -- -- and I -- steps.
-- we've got.
A number of a number of my college psychologist today some of my more I can't decide to -- up there what's happening we we -- we -- -- grassroots first.
The occupied this now or is the list that we set out just to try to get our grassroots support and and between our merchants and obviously getting that are standard on board is a huge help.
We're seeing a real -- -- a lot of my colleagues -- -- my house members and server are hearing from their constituents saying.
We need to get the money you know we really needed to cosponsor this this resolution this and -- You're state senator Florida prior to your recent your first term here's congressman and elect a -- now ideally don't.
-- our elected Allen last year in the special Election Day folks.
And -- -- reelected in November.
I would cheer for I'm -- short time in the majority.
And and I realized that -- to get back to that shouldn't.
Include let's open -- let me get a call in here Bob in Albuquerque.
With commented George good -- I politically I suppose that you believe that it's.
Since the union members or member group there and that there -- participating that they can participate.
He and funding supporting elections that you would also -- and support voluntary membership in -- rather than compulsory membership.
-- I think debt debt debt whether someone belongs to unions.
Your decision bid to participate in policy choose still.
About how a group of individuals that the difference between -- yeah and involved and nonprofits like Sierra Club in the area.
-- -- say they can't remember that should be voluntary not not mandatory is with clubs and.
So there's you despite yet our balance you know despite the efforts so many of my friends on the other side -- year -- Our who have tried to dismantle the NLRB that a long standing process -- history.
In this country of giving workers the opportunity to organize them as prostitutes -- -- that process is followed his election.
You're the union has formed.
That processor that supports three years -- workers' rights -- the lowest at.
Thank you -- -- union membership be mandatory and that was a question.
-- -- -- have the right to opt out.
Outlook again I think that the the nationally Malaysian jacked.
But status as a whole the whole procedure capital lecturing them and that's that's what lot of government prosecute.
So what's the next step in the amendment process.
Well the couple experts I really I encourage your what their kids to go to the -- -- dot org just signed the petition.
-- to show their support.
I encourage your outlook has to call their members congressman urged and -- Just trying on do -- house joint resolution ninety.
Have been finalized cosponsor.
And -- get out there and if you go to particular website they'll.
-- don't understand it more blow tried to do quite so important that -- -- to Citizens United think.
-- -- -- -- got web -- we did justice Stephens made suite for congress to take some action.
-- -- -- Take the necessary steps to -- to keep democracy sure before it's too late natural -- Sons and -- thank you for demolition and I -- few times of -- good -- thing.
