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HJ0010 • 2023

Political expenditures-2.

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a constitutional amendment identifying the source of political contributions as specified.

Inactive

Wyoming marks this bill as inactive, which usually means it is no longer moving in the current session.

Sponsor
Representative Chestek
Last action
2023-02-07
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2023

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on how contributions should be identified or limited, nor does it specify the exact nature of organizations that would be exempt from restrictions.

Request for Constitutional Amendment on Political Contributions

This resolution asks Congress to propose a constitutional amendment that would require public identification of political contributions' sources and limit or prohibit non-natural person entities from making campaign contributions.

What This Bill Does

  • Asks the U.S. Congress to create a new rule in the Constitution about who can give money for political campaigns.
  • Wants this new rule to make sure people know where political money comes from.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The U.S. Congress, which would need to propose the amendment.
  • Political campaigns and groups that support or oppose candidates for office.
  • Citizens and organizations making political contributions.

Terms To Know

Constitutional Amendment
A change to the U.S. Constitution, which is the highest law of the land.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution does not specify how contributions should be identified or limited.
  • It is unclear if Congress will act on this request, as it was marked inactive in Wyoming's legislative process.

Bill History

  1. 2023-02-07 House

    H:Died in Committee Returned Bill Pursuant to HR 5-4

  2. 2023-02-07 House

    H No report prior to CoW Cutoff

  3. 2023-01-31 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations

  4. 2023-01-26 House

    H Received for Introduction

  5. 2023-01-25 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
23LSO-0712
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0712
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0010

Political expenditures-2.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Chestek and Zwonitzer, Dn

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a constitutional amendment identifying the source of political contributions as specified.

WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that Congress and the states lack authority to ban independent corporate expenditures to political campaigns for public office, relying on the concept that the spending of money to elect a candidate is protected speech; and

WHEREAS, this United States Supreme Court precedent has allowed the creation of super political action committees in campaigns for public office, which have made campaign expenditures whose source cannot be readily traced to natural persons in unprecedented amounts; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Wyoming has grave concerns that corporations have abilities not enjoyed by natural persons including perpetual life and enhanced accumulation of assets, which may enable corporations to financially overwhelm individual natural persons in the political process; and

WHEREAS, Congress, state legislatures and local legislative bodies should have the authority to require the identification of the natural person sources of campaign expenditures and to limit expenditures by entities that are not natural persons; and

WHEREAS, a constitutional amendment would control over United States Supreme Court precedent interpreting the United States Constitution.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:

Section 1.

That the Legislature of the State of Wyoming respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to propose and send to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow the public identification of the source of political contributions or expenditures for or against any candidate and to limit or prohibit corporations and other entities that are not natural persons from making campaign contributions for or against any candidate. Political expenditures by organizations that are comprised of natural persons and that publicly identify their members and donors should not be restricted.

Section 2.

That the Secretary of State of Wyoming transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States, to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

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HJ0010