N.H. Calls for Amendment to Overturn Citizens United

On June 6, 2019, the New Hampshire Senate approved HB 504, making New Hampshire the 20th state to call for a constitutional amendment to overturn the U.S. Supreme Court’s disastrous 2010 Citizens United decision, get money out of politics and restore elections to the people.

Citizens United allowed large sums of money from wealthy and unknown donors and corporations to flood elections. In New Hampshire, more than $49 million from outside sources was spent on state congressional races in 2014, drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens in the state and inspiring many voters to take action, demanding their elected officials confront the surge of outside money being spent on state and federal elections.

For seven years, Public Citizen worked with an energized coalition in New Hampshire to pass 82 local resolutions in support of an amendment. They also held countless rallies in Concord and across the state, attended hearings, called state lawmakers and signed petitions in support of overturning the decision.

The Senate’s vote followed the March 19 approval of HB 504 by the state House of Representatives. The New Hampshire governor’s support is not necessary to ratify an amendment.

New Hampshire’s vote brings the national movement beyond the symbolic halfway point of the 38 states needed to ratify a constitutional amendment overturning the 2010 Supreme Court ruling.

With New Hampshire joining the national movement to support overturning Citizens United, limiting corporate influence on federal lawmakers is within arm’s reach. Jonah Minkoff-Zern, campaign co-director, Public Citizen’s Democracy Is For People Campaign