HOUSE DOCKET, NO.                 FILED ON: 2/3/2016

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3985

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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Resolutions URGING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT AND PUT FORTH FOR RATIFICATION AN AMENDMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION RELATING TO CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING.

WHEREAS, FAIR AND FREE ELECTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO DEMOCRACY AND EFFECTIVE SELF-GOVERNMENT; AND

WHEREAS, CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS ARE KEY TOOLS FOR FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS IN ACHIEVING FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS; AND

WHEREAS, NOTHING IN THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO FORBID CONGRESS OR THE STATES FROM IMPOSING REASONABLE CONTENT-NEUTRAL LIMITATIONS ON PRIVATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS OR INDEPENDENT ELECTION EXPENDITURES, OR FROM ENACTING SYSTEMS OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING, INCLUDING THOSE DESIGNED TO RESTRICT THE INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE WEALTH BY OFFSETTING CAMPAIGN SPENDING OR INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES WITH INCREASED PUBLIC FUNDING; THEREFORE BE IT

RESOLVED, THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RESPECTFULLY URGE THE MEMBERS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION AND THE LEADERS OF THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT H. J.RESOLUTION 58, PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES RELATING TO THE AUTHORITY OF CONGRESS AND THE STATES TO REGULATE CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES IN POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND TO ENACT PUBLIC FINANCING SYSTEMS FOR SUCH CAMPAIGNS; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION BE FORWARDED BY THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE TO THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.