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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Josh Shapiro |
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Shapiro calls for federal convention to limit
campaign contributions and expenditures
ABINGTON, Mar. 8 – State Rep. Josh Shapiro, D-Montgomery, on Friday joined state Reps. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, Babette Josephs, D-Phila., and Brendan Boyle, D-Phila./Montgomery, to call for a federal convention to amend the U.S. Constitution in order to limit campaign contributions and expenditures.
Shapiro and his colleagues in the House announced their plans to introduce a bipartisan concurrent resolution to begin the process for a federal convention to amend the U.S. Constitution.
"In light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling to end restrictions on corporate money in politics, this effort to reform our campaign finance system is needed now more than ever," Shapiro explained. "Unfettered contributions from corporations, political action committees, or individuals only serve to further undermine the public confidence in government’s actions. Large contributions can limit the debate to include only the select few, making government actions small."
"The Supreme Court's ruling that government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections is essentially a victory for corporations and special interest groups that have the wealth and power to overpower the voices of ordinary citizens like you and me," Santarsiero said. "The influence of these powerful entities on politics is a growing concern and threatens political participation and our democracy."
Shapiro is the prime co-sponsor of the concurrent resolution. He is also the prime sponsor of H.B. 2130, currently before the House State Government Committee, which would cap campaign contributions, increase the number of campaign finance reports a candidate is required to file, require every organization that raises or spends money to influence an election for state office in Pennsylvania, and would end "pay-to-play" politics by prohibiting Commonwealth agencies from awarding no-bid contracts to campaign donors.
Shapiro represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.pahouse.com/Shapiro.
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