SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1943        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 9

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Paul W. Mark

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying proposal for constitutional amendment:

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to campaign finance reform.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Paul W. Mark

Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin and Hampshire

 

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/13/2023

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

2/13/2023

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

2/14/2023

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

2/15/2023

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/27/2023

Patrick Joseph Kearney

4th Plymouth

3/2/2023

James C. Arena-DeRosa

8th Middlesex

3/16/2023


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1943        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 9

By Mr. Mark, a petition (accompanied by proposal, Senate, No. 9) of Paul W. Mark for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to campaign finance reform.  Election Laws.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

Proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to campaign finance reform.

 

A majority of all the members elected to the Senate and House of Representatives, in joint session, hereby declares it to be expedient to alter the Constitution by the adoption of the following Article of Amendment, to the end that it may become a part of the Constitution [if similarly agreed to in a joint session of the next General Court and approved by the people at the state election next following]:
 

ARTICLE OF AMENDMENT.
 

SECTION 1. Corporations are not people and may be regulated. The rights afforded to the human inhabitants of this Commonwealth, under this Constitution, are not applicable to any corporation, corporate entity, or artificial person. Any references to persons, citizens, inhabitants, subjects, men, women, people, individuals, or like terms in this Constitution are not to be construed in any way to be referring to a corporation, corporate entity, or artificial person. All corporations, corporate entities, or artificial persons shall do business in Massachusetts under the regulation of laws passed by the Massachusetts General Court, which shall set the rights of such entities to do business to promote the common good and strengthen the social compact of this Commonwealth.

SECTION 2. The Massachusetts General Court may regulate and set reasonable limits on all political contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all individuals, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process and that no individual gains more access or ability to influence in any way, the election of any candidate for public office, or any ballot measure. The Massachusetts General Court shall require that any and all permissible contributions and expenditures, including late donations, be publicly disclosed, in a timely manner, for the purpose of informing the people, before any vote is held.

SECTION 3. Nothing contained in this Amendment shall be construed to abridge the freedom of the press.