The Senate Committee on Rules & Administration considered ways to counter the Supreme Court's Jan. 21 decision that limited Congress' ability to regulate corporate campaign spending. During yesterday's hearing, called "Corporate America vs. The Voter," Yale Law School professor Heather Gerken testified that the Supreme Court "has gradually dismantled key campaign-finance provisions that were designed to protect our democratic system from the damaging effects of money and undue influence." Gerken, a frequent ACS participant, told the Senate Committee that even after the high court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC, there remained avenues "for congressional action." Professor Gerken urged new legislation to "strengthen disclaimer and disclosure rules for corporations' independent expenditures," for regulation to "ensure that shareholders exert meaningful control over corporate spending," and for Congress to "take steps to protect U.S. elections from foreign influence." Gerken's prepared testimony is available here.

The Committee also heard from Sens. John Kerry and Russell D. Feingold. Sen. Kerry called for a "constitutional amendment to make clear that corporations do not have the same speech rights as individuals," The Christian Science Monitor reported.

In his opening remarks, Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer maintained that the "changes that are likely to result from the Citizens United case have the potential to be disastrous to the health of our democracy, inviting unprecedented spending and influence by wealthy special interests." An archived Web case of the hearing is available here.

Other congressional committees are also investigating ways to respond to Citizens United. The Monitor reported that the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution would conduct a hearing today on Citizens United. The House Administration Committee is also conducting a Feb. 3 hearing on the decision. 

[image via thebestgovernmentmoneycanbuy.com]