Sponsor Statement for SJR 4

"Proposing a United States Constitutional Amendment allowing Campaign Spending Limits"

Senate Joint Resolution 4 proposes a United States Constitutional amendment which would enable each state legislature and the U.S. Congress to determine reasonable spending limits for their respective state and federal elections.

Passage of SJR 4 will add strength to a national grassroots movement to adopt an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to allow campaign spending limits. A 1976 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Buckley v. Valeo) prohibits legislative limits on campaign spending. In the 104th Congress Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced similar federal legislation, Senate Joint Resolution 48 with Senator Fritz Hollings. Also in the 104th Congress Representative Phil English (R-PA) introduced House Resolution 172, which is also similer to SJR 4. In the 105th Congress U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings (D-SC) introduced federal legislation (SJR 18) identical to SJR 4. Also in the 105th Congress Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) introduced similar legislation, House Joint Resolution 17.

Campaign spending has escalated as elections have moved towards expensive media campaigns. Runaway spending on campaigns in recent years has resulted in a bias in the selection of elected public officials toward those who could spend the most.

Should congress adopt a resolution similar to SJR 4 and 37 states adopt resolutions similar to SJR 4, this language would be added to the U.S. Constitution. If 37 states adopt similar resolutions and Congress does not, then a Federal constitutional convention would be called only to consider this proposal. Historically, Congress acts to approve such proposals before 37 states do to avoid the necessity of a constitutional convention. In fact, Congress has always acted to adopt U.S. Constitutional amendments when sufficient states ratify them thus avoiding a constitutional convention. It is not the intent of SJR 4 to force a constitutional convention instead, it is intended to persuade the U.S. Congress of the urgent need of an amendment to the Constitution to allow legislative spending limits on campaigns.

For more information, contact Chris Hieb of my staff at (907) 465-3892.

DD/clh