[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14458-14459]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES 
RELATING TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES INTENDED TO AFFECT ELECTIONS

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the joint resolution.
  The assistant bill clerk read as follows:

       A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 19) proposing an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States relating to 
     contributions and expenditures intended to affect elections.

  The Senate proceeded to consider the joint resolution which had been 
reported from the Committee on the Judiciary with an amendment, as 
follows:

       That the following article is proposed as an amendment to 
     the Constitution of the United States, which shall be valid 
     to all intents and purposes as part of the Constitution when 
     ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several 
     States:

                              ``Article--

       ``Section 1. To advance democratic self-government and 
     political equality, and to protect the integrity of 
     government and the electoral process, Congress and the States 
     may regulate and set reasonable limits on the raising and 
     spending of money by candidates and others to influence 
     elections.
       ``Section 2. Congress and the States shall have power to 
     implement and enforce this article by appropriate 
     legislation, and may distinguish between natural persons and 
     corporations or other artificial entities created by law, 
     including by prohibiting such entities from spending money to 
     influence elections.
       ``Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to 
     grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom 
     of the press.''.


                           Amendment No. 3791

  Mr. REID. I have an amendment to the committee-reported substitute, 
which is at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3791 to the committee-reported substitute.

  The amendment is as follows:

       In Section 1, strike ``and the electoral process'' and 
     insert `` the electoral process and to prevent corruption''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on that 
amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3792 to Amendment No. 3791

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3792 to amendment numbered 3791.

  The amendment is as follows:

       At the end, insert the following:
       ``, which shall not be limited to bribery or quid pro quo 
     corruption''

[[Page 14459]]




                           Amendment No. 3793

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have an amendment to the underlying joint 
resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3793 to S.J. Res. 19.

  The amendment is as follows:

       In Section 1, strike ``electoral processes'' and insert 
     ``the electoral processes and to prevent corruption in 
     government''

  Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3794 to Amendment No. 3793

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3794 to amendment numbered 3793.

  The amendment is as follows:

       At the end, insert the following:
       ``, which shall not be defined solely as bribery or quid 
     pro quo corruption''


               Motion to Recommit with Amendment No. 3795

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a motion to recommit S.J. Res. 19 
with instructions.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the motion.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] moves to recommit the 
     bill to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to 
     report back forthwith the following amendment numbered 3795.

  The amendment is as follows:

       In Section 1, strike ``and electoral processes'' and insert 
     ``process and prevent corruption in the electoral system''

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                           Amendment No. 3796

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have an amendment to the instructions at 
the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3796 to the instructions to the motion to recommit.

  The amendment is as follows:

       In the amendment, strike ``system'' and insert ``process''.

  Mr. REID. I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.


                Amendment No. 3797 to Amendment No. 3796

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the 
desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 3797 to amendment numbered 3796.

  The amendment is as follows:

       At the end, add the following:
       ``, which shall not be constrained to bribery or quid pro 
     quo corruption''


                             CLOTURE MOTION

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     hereby move to bring to a close debate on S.J. Res. 19, a 
     joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 
     of the United States relating to contributions and 
     expenditures intended to affect elections.
         Harry Reid, Patrick J. Leahy, Tom Udall, Bernard Sanders, 
           Jeff Merkley, Mark Begich, Joe Manchin III, Amy 
           Klobuchar, Tammy Baldwin, Mazie K. Hirono, Sherrod 
           Brown, Elizabeth Warren, Robert Menendez, Robert P. 
           Casey, Jr., Al Franken, Sheldon Whitehouse, Richard J. 
           Durbin.

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent the mandatory quorum to rule XXII 
be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is 
so ordered.

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