Citizens United – Sandy Rosenberg

Writing a letter to the editor is a lot like drafting a bill.

Except I’m the drafter.

I was reminded of that today.

An op-ed critical of Governor Hogan’s executive order on the boycott of Israel was in this morning’s Baltimore Sun.

Since I was very involved in the effort to pass legislation that prompted the Governor to issue the order, I was well aware of the basic error in the op-ed.

It asserts that the order prohibits “the state from doing business with individuals and entities that engage in or support a boycott of Israeli businesses.”

The Governor’s executive order is limited to procurement contracts with a business entity. It does not include an individual teacher or recipient of disaster aid, as was the case in examples from other states cited in the op-ed.

It didn’t take me long to draft the opening sentences, but then I sought assistance.

I sent it to an advocate for the bill.

I asked my Legislative Director to find a relevant excerpt from the dissent in the Citizens United decision.

When I hear back from the legislators I asked to sign the letter, I’ll send it to the Sun.

And share it with you.

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

My Key Issues:

Tag: Citizens United

I’m the drafter

Gaining support in many ways

My Key Issues: