Kerry backs constitutional amendment to end campaign finance decision's impact

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) joined calls to draft a constitutional amendment to mitigate the impact of a Supreme Court decision that lifted limits on corporate spending in politics. 

Kerry on Tuesday became the latest Democratic senator to endorse an amendment to address the decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

"I think we need a constitutional amendment to make it clear once and for all that corporations do not have the same free speech rights as individuals," Kerry said during a committee hearing. 

Democrats have been mulling legislation to restrict the scope of the court's ruling, which knocked down large portions of existing campaign finance law.

In a 5-4 decision, the court last month held that corporations should be treated under the law the same way individuals are, a ruling that could open the floodgates to unlimited corporate spending in politics.

Some experts say unions may also be allowed to spend freely.

Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) was the first senator to call for a constitutional amendment. But since he stated his position in late January, lawmakers have not publicly said what the amendment would contain.

Two-thirds of both houses of Congress would have to ratify an amendment, which would prove difficult since many Republicans support the ruling. Three-fourths of the states must also ratify it.

Amending the Constitution has proven difficult in recent years. The founding document has not been amended since 1992, when lawmakers and conventions approved limits on congressional pay raises that had not been voted on for over 200 years.

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