From Daniel Penrice and Elizabeth Rassweiler, from Dec. 3 and 7, 2017: The members of the Greater Boston Chapter of We the People Massachusetts wish to express appreciation to state Sens. Pat Jehlen and Sal DiDomenico and state Rep. Marjorie Decker for their support of the We the People Act, now before the state Legislature. This bill would have Massachusetts, the cradle of American democracy, join five other states – Vermont, California, Illinois, New Jersey and Rhode Island – that have voted to propose a constitutional amendment overturning the Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision.

Jehlen,  is a co-sponsor of this legislation and has joined members of the Massachusetts House and Senate in signing a letter urging a positive report from the chairs of the committees considering this bill.

We need only to look at the tax legislation now working its way through Congress to see how little the will of the people now matters in Washington. Until we the people, through our state senators and representatives, exercise our authority to amend the Constitution in this way, politics will continue to be dominated by multinational corporations, billionaires and other powerful special interests, and government of, by and for the people will continue to be a mirage.

Amending the U.S. Constitution is a heavy lift, but it has been done 27 times before. Without constitutional amendments, former slaves, women and people old enough to serve in the military would not have a voice in public affairs. Now it’s our turn to live up to the first three words of the Constitution – “We the People” – and make our government responsive to all citizens, not just to the wealthy few.