Maryland lawmakers push against fundraising ruling

Posted: 12:59 pm Thu, January 19, 2012
By Associated Press

ANNAPOLIS — Maryland Democratic Reps. Christopher Van Hollen and John Sarbanes are joining Democratic state lawmakers in pushing for a U.S. constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizens United case.

Van Hollen and Sarbanes were in Annapolis on Thursday to launch a campaign to gather signatures opposing the 2010 ruling that stripped away some limits on campaign contributions.

Van Hollen says the court’s decision could lead to a corporate takeover of the Democratic process.

Sarbanes admits it won’t be easy. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress. Then, three-fourths of the state legislatures would have to approve it. But Sarbanes says the stakes are high, and it makes sense to try in this case.