The U.S. Senate is expected to take an historic vote today on a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress and the states control over political campaign spending limits.
Jonah Minkoff-Zern with Public Citizen says the resolution is not likely to be approved, since it needs a two-thirds vote. But, he says the fact that it has broad political support is an important long-term symbol for getting big money out of politics
"So the fact that we now have 50 senators and likely by the time the vote happens, the majority of the Senate, supporting a constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics, is an enormous victory for our movement. And a great opportunity for people all around the country to discuss and see the issue," Minkoff-Zern said.
Minkoff-Zern says recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions have determined that spending money on elections is a form of speech and as a result contributing to a political campaign is a First Amendment issue. He’s urging Arizonans to pressure Senators John McCain and Jeff Flake to support the resolution as a step toward eliminating big money from politics.