A policy declaration opposing the legal doctrine of corporate personhood will go on San Francisco’s ballot in November after a unanimous vote Tuesday by the city’s Board of Supervisors.
The declaration, co-sponsored by Supervisors John Avalos, David Campos and Christina Olague, is in response to a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that the Constitution’s First Amendment prohibits the government from limiting spending by corporations for political purposes.
“We’re living in a time of trickle-down economics … where there’s a great divide between the rich and poor,” Avalos said. “Money can be the greatest influence in the outcome of an election.”
The declaration urges Congress to pass a constitutional amendment overturning the high court’s 5-4 ruling, which was in the case Citizens United v. the Federal Elections Commission.
The board voted 10-0 in favor of putting the declaration on the November ballot.
Supervisor Mark Farrell was absent from Tuesday’s meeting to attend a funeral.
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
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