Calling upon the United States Congress to propose a constitutional amendment addressing the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission.

    Whereas, In 2010, the United States Supreme Court issued its ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that enabled corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts of money in support of or in opposition to candidates for election; and

    Whereas, The people of West Virginia and all other states should have the power to limit by law the extent to which money can be spent in their political systems; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby calls upon the United States Congress to propose a constitutional amendment addressing the Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate supports an amendment to the United States Constitution to establish that corporations and unions are not entitled to the same rights and protections as natural persons under the Constitution; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That such an amendment should assure the power of the federal, state and local governments to limit, regulate and require disclosure of sources of all money spent in the course of political elections; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Senate requests that the West Virginia Congressional Delegation support such an amendment, work diligently towards its passage and vote at all stages to advance such legislation in the Congress; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Vice President of the United States and the President pro Tempore of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the majority and minority leaders of both houses of Congress and to each United States Senator and Member of the House of Representatives from West Virginia.