Sun Journal Letter to the Editor: What you don't know, by CCTA Member Lou Call

August 1st



The Sun Journal
Letter to the Editor

What you don’t know….

Languishing in Congress is a little known House Joint Resolution 88 which has been introduced by Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass) and supported by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. It is known by its name, ‘Peoples Rights Amendment’ and declares that:

(1) the rights protected by the Constitution are intended to be the rights of natural persons; and


(2) the words "people," "person," or "citizen" as used in the Constitution do not include corporations, limited liability companies, or other corporate entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state, and that such corporate entities are subject to such regulation as the people, through their elected state and federal representatives, deem reasonable and are otherwise consistent with the powers of Congress and the states. Prohibits this Amendment from limiting the rights of freedom of speech, the press, exercise of religion, association, and all such other inalienable rights of the people.

On the surface it sounds innocuous enough until you consider what the sponsor had in mind when he proposed this amendment to the Constitution. As its author, Rep. McGovern explained,””..all corporate entities – for profit and non-profit alike-are not people with Constitution rights”.

Under the People’s Rights Amendment anyone who tried to exercise his or her constitution rights collectively with other people would be “subject to such regulation as Congress deems reasonable”.


So who would be affected by this resolution? Americans for Prosperity, Citizens United, National Rifle Association, American Family Association etc…


Even MSNBC and the New York Times come under this ruling.....assuming you can find someone in Congress to challenge them.

The only purpose of this amendment to our Constitution is to ‘muzzle’ organizations from speaking out for its members regardless of who is control of Congress. A dangerous and unnecessary precedent.

Before you dismiss this as some radical leftist pipe dream consider this. At least four States-Hawaii, New Mexico, Vermont and Rhode Island-have already passed resolutions calling for this amendment.

Perhaps Chief Justice John Roberts summed it up when he wrote in the Citizens United case, “The First Amendment protects more than just the individual on a soap box and the lonely pamphleteer. “

We need to remember this in November for there is much more at stake than just the office of President.

The very survival of our Republic hangs in the balance.

Louis Call
River Bend, NC