I’ll take support for my bills from whomever and for whatever reason.

            Citizens United is the controversial Supreme Court decision that said corporations are people too – with rights under the First Amendment. 

            The government can’t limit how much they spend on a political campaign.  However, you can require them to report what they spend.

Last year, I was one of several legislators who sponsored bills to do that.  They were opposed by the Chamber of Commerce.

            This past summer, I helped draft a bill that would extend the existing disclosure requirements in our campaign law to independent expenditures by corporations and unions.  This modest, conservative approach can serve liberal ends. 

Last week, the Chamber provided us with four proposed amendments.  Committee counsel advised that the changes were minor, truly “tweaks” that did not gut the bill.

            The Chamber’s support should make a big difference. 

            I hope that a phone call from a prominent attorney to an undecided legislator on another bill I’m sponsoring will also make a big difference – on the merits. 

            Turns out the lawyer is also a contributor to the legislator’s campaign and will remind him of that.

February 15