http://youtu.be/UUcx_04Yyhc
06.20.12 (LAS CRUCES) -- The Citizens United Supreme Court decision is opening a floodgate to unlimited money in elections and causing voters across the country to take action.
Viann Beadle of Las Cruces shares a lot of same concerns with many people across the country.
“How much money is being spent. The lack of accountability with regard to who makes a contribution, corporations making contributions, people feel that their vote doesn’t count anymore,” she said.
Beadle is part of MoveOn, a coalition urging lawmakers to repeal Citizens United, a supreme court decision allowing big corporations and wealthy individuals to spend unlimited amounts of money on elections, secretly and without accountability.
“A lot of this money is going to fund basically negative campaigns against candidates. There’s a general stalemate in congress, some people brought up the whole issue of when somebody gets elected they are not willing to work with members of the other party to compromise on issues that would probably be beneficial to both of them,” she said.
Members from the local chapter of MoveOn paid a visit to Congressman Steve Pearce's office presenting a petition with a long list of signatures explaining the reasons why members of Congress should support reversing the effects of the decision with a constitutional amendment.
“I think that takes away from our one person, one vote that our country and democracy are built on,” said Bill Soules, local educator.
Protesters say Citizens United will have a big impact on this year's elections.
“If you complete, you almost have to take the money and so you feel very hypocritical about it and I think many people feel that same way that they wish there was not so much money involved and much more discussion about electing the best person rather then trying to discredit other persons that’s being something that’s terrible,” he said.
A spokesperson for Congressman Steve Pearce says the congressman is always open to all visitors and while representative Pearce will not sign any petition, he and his staff will carefully review all material left at the office.
Reported by Carlos Correa
