Senator Shelby and amending First Amendment

[See Join the First Amendment debate.]


From: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 8:14 AM
Subject: online message to Richard Shelby through Senate website
To: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>

Dear Senator Shelby,

I am seeking to be an independent candidate for the House of Representatives from the 6th Congressional District. I am advocating that the First Amendment be amended to be applicable only to human beings.  To assist 6th district voters in evaluating this idea, I would like to solicit and publicize the views of organizations, candidates and others that voters might consider useful in making up their minds on this question.  Your view as United States Senator from Alabama is one whose view I would like to solicit.

If you are willing to state a position, I would like to publicize the same in (or by a link from) my website entry Join the First Amendment debate (URL http://al6thcongdist-ihaveuntiljan13.blogspot.com/2011/12/join-debate.html).

I hope you will indeed join this debate.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Rob Shattuck


[Below is a optical scanner text conversion of a letter I received from Senator Shelby in response.  Sorry about the imperfections in same.]   

RICHARD SHELBY ALABAMA

RANKING MEMBER-COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, & URBAN AFFAIRS

COMMITTEE ON ApPROPRIATIONS

RANKING MEMBER-SUBCOMMITTEE ON LABOR, HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION & RELATED AGENCIES

COMMITTEE ON RULES & ADMINISTRATION SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING

Janury 25, 2012

iinitfd ~tatfS ~fnatf

WASHINGTON, DC 20510-0103

STATE OFFICES:

o     1800 FIFTH AVENUE NORTH 321 FEDERAL BUILDING BIRMINGHAM, AL 35203 12051731-1384

o     HUNTSVilLE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT 1000 GLENN HEARN BOULEVARD

Box 20127

HUNTSVILLE, AL 35824

1256) 772--{)460

o     113 SAINT JOSEPH STREET 445 U.S. COURTHOUSE MOBILE, AL 36602 12511694-4164

o     15 LEE STREET

FMJ FEDERAL BLDG., SUITE 208 MONTGOMERY. AL 36104

1334) 223-7303

o     2005 UNIVERSITY BOULEVARD, SUITE 2100 TUSCALOOSA, AL 35401

(205) 759-5047 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            (205) 759-5047      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Mr. Robert D. Shattuck, Jr.

3812 Spring Valley Circle,

Birmingham, Alabama 35223

Dear Mr. Shattuck:

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding campaign finance reform. I always aopreciate hearing from my constituents.

I

On January 21, 2010, the United States Supreme Court decided 5-4 in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission to ease restrictions on corporate pa:~ticipation in federal elections. It is important to note that Citizens United did not alter the laws prohibiting campaign contributions from corporations or labor unions, nor does it change the law that bans foreign corporations from participating in our federal elections. This ruling merely allows American corporations to once again exercise their First Amendment rights to independently produce advertisements, pamphlets, books, or documentaries supporting or opposing candidates for President or Congress. It remains illegal for corporations or labor unions to contribute to political campaigns.

In its ruling, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional numerous provisions of the McCain-Feingold Act (Public Law

No. 107-155). I believe many of the provisions of MCCain-Feingold infringe on the First Amendment and are generally contrary to what our country needs in the way of campaign finance reform. Effective and responsible campaign finance reform can be realized through more meaningful disclosures; by creating more stringent reporting requirements; and by increasing the amount of information available

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system is to fully disclose all pOlitical contributions and spending. Such reform increases the transparency of campaign financing without limiting political speech and makes available the knowledge of candidates and contributions that would allow voters to make educated decisions. Transparency is the surest way to address our concerns about corruption. Corruption, or even the perception thereof, cannot stand the light of day - because the people will not stand for it,

Since the Supreme Court decided this case, many, including President Obama, have called for new campaign finance reform legislation. Proposals have arisen to require shareholder approval of pOlitical expenditures from corporate treasuries and clarify the definition of a domestic cor:;>oration to ensure that foreign companies remain prohibited from influencing our elections. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as the Senate considers such proposalS,

http://shelby_senate.gov/

Again, thank you for contacting me. If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

~~

Richard Shelby

RCS/mvy

P.S. Please visit my website at www.shelby.senate.govI