The 2025 Assembly Joint Resolution 57, introduced by Representative Steffen and cosponsored by Senator Testin, expresses the Wisconsin Legislature's support for a constitutional amendment that would grant states and Congress the authority to regulate campaign financing. The resolution emphasizes the importance of fostering political debate, freedom of speech, and self-government while addressing concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court's interpretation of election spending as free speech may undermine these principles. It argues that excessive election spending can overshadow the voices of individual citizens and weaken the democratic process.
The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to clarify that states and Congress can impose reasonable regulations on election spending, allowing them to differentiate between natural persons and legally recognized entities. It reflects the belief that the framers of the U.S. Constitution intended for states to have the power to amend the Constitution to enhance self-government and protect individual liberties. The resolution concludes with a directive to submit copies to key congressional leaders and Wisconsin's congressional delegation.