2023 23LSO-0712
STATE OF WYOMING
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. HJ0010
Political expenditures-2.
Sponsored by: Representative(s) Chestek and Zwonitzer, Dn
A JOINT RESOLUTION
for
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION requesting Congress to propose a
2 constitutional amendment identifying the source of
3 political contributions as specified.
4
5 WHEREAS, the United States Supreme Court has ruled that
6 Congress and the states lack authority to ban independent
7 corporate expenditures to political campaigns for public
8 office, relying on the concept that the spending of money
9 to elect a candidate is protected speech; and
10
11 WHEREAS, this United States Supreme Court precedent has
12 allowed the creation of super political action committees
13 in campaigns for public office, which have made campaign
14 expenditures whose source cannot be readily traced to
15 natural persons in unprecedented amounts; and
16
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1 WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of Wyoming has grave
2 concerns that corporations have abilities not enjoyed by
3 natural persons including perpetual life and enhanced
4 accumulation of assets, which may enable corporations to
5 financially overwhelm individual natural persons in the
6 political process; and
7
8 WHEREAS, Congress, state legislatures and local legislative
9 bodies should have the authority to require the
10 identification of the natural person sources of campaign
11 expenditures and to limit expenditures by entities that are
12 not natural persons; and
13
14 WHEREAS, a constitutional amendment would control over
15 United States Supreme Court precedent interpreting the
16 United States Constitution.
17
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE
19 LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING:
20
21 Section 1. That the Legislature of the State of
22 Wyoming respectfully urges the Congress of the United
23 States to propose and send to the states for ratification
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 2023 STATE OF WYOMING 23LSO-0712
1 an amendment to the United States Constitution to allow the
2 public identification of the source of political
3 contributions or expenditures for or against any candidate
4 and to limit or prohibit corporations and other entities
5 that are not natural persons from making campaign
6 contributions for or against any candidate. Political
7 expenditures by organizations that are comprised of natural
8 persons and that publicly identify their members and donors
9 should not be restricted.
10
11 Section 2. That the Secretary of State of Wyoming
12 transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the
13 United States, to the President of the Senate and the
14 Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United
15 States Congress and to the Wyoming Congressional
16 Delegation.
17
18 (END)
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