Political expenditures.

25LSO-0700
2025
State of Wyoming
25LSO-0700
Numbered
2.0

Senate JOINT RESOLUTION NO. SJ0008

Political expenditures.

Sponsored by: Senator(s) Cooper, Anderson, Barlow, Boner, Brennan, Crago, Crum, Dockstader, Driskill, Gierau, Hutchings, Jones, Landen, Nethercott, Pappas, Schuler and Scott and Representative(s) Brown, L, Byron, Connolly, Davis, Erickson, Geringer, Jarvis, Larsen, L, McCann, Schmid, Styvar, Washut, Wasserburger, Wharff, Williams and Wylie

A JOINT RESOLUTION

for

A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to authorize states and Congress to establish reasonable limits on political contributions made to influence elections.

WHEREAS, Article 1, Section 1 of the Wyoming Constitution provides that "All power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety and happiness; for the advancement of these ends they have at all times an inalienable and indefeasible right to alter, reform or abolish the government in such manner as they think proper"; and

WHEREAS, the Wyoming Constitution recognizes that "equality in the enjoyment of natural and civil rights is only made sure through political equality"; and

WHEREAS, the people of Wyoming have compelling sovereign interests in fostering robust political debate and self-government, protecting the free speech interests of all individuals, securing the liberty and political equality of Wyoming's citizens, guarding against corruption and advancing federalism and the interests of the several states; and

WHEREAS, reasonable limits on how money is used to influence the outcomes of elections may be wise to secure the interests of all citizens of Wyoming to be represented and participate in elections and self-government, to protect the integrity of elections and government against out-of-state and foreign interests and undue influence of wealthy special interests, whether of corporations, unions or other artificial entities and to ensure that elected representatives are aligned with the interests of actual constituents; and

WHEREAS, over the past five (5) decades, the United States Supreme Court has gradually come to equate unlimited election spending with "free speech," contrary to the original public meaning of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. This unlimited spending is drowning out the free speech interests of actual constituents, narrowing debate, weakening federalism and self-governance in the states and increasing the risk of systemic corruption; and

WHEREAS, the framers to the United States Constitution wisely granted the states the power to amend the Constitution when necessary to make it, and our Union, ever more perfect and to protect and preserve self-government and liberty; 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 and the people of Wyoming hereby call upon the Congress of the United States to propose and send to the states for ratification an amendment to the United States Constitution to provide that the states and Congress, within their respective jurisdictions, may establish reasonable limits on the spending of money to influence elections and that, in so doing, the states and Congress may distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities, including corporations, unions and artificial intelligence.

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, the majority leader and minority leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the majority leader and minority leader of the House of Representatives of the United States Congress and to each member of the Wyoming Congressional Delegation.

(END)

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SJ0008