[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6348498,"mediaKeyId","2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b","parentId",2241713,"title","Committee lays over Marty resolution asking Congress to propose amendment reversing corporate personhood and Citizens United","audioSeconds",1481,"startMs",4951000,"endMs",6432000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b&start=4951&end=6432","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b/thumbnail_4951000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348498/Minnesota/Committee-lays-over-Marty-resolution-asking-Congress-to-propose-amendment-reversing-corporate-personhood-and-Citizens-United","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348498-a46412db8abee88f293b460b8a22a700/orig.mp4?Expires=1770695726&Signature=c7WYznAo01VNK9~5mrgKA9Gs8OHcbZQlGSRup2bnwz~w25y7HL4QexhXswTi-h-vItnwWq2cU9CJHyRJn-2Bm6ZE~BLqVp0eKIk4qCNrK6c4ic0d7qYD7AHiK7ZUILThJh4Qr43jMDfpJvqhVQQqyrFHYWhmPd2sbW2ufbuHVngEA-muyK6TWb1U6T9jf27KAhjmykH4JijOcg9Zbrr~MoZUG9im5jnvi-kAC2Uj3iE3a6kHPwrqbtrLHyLaDA~aKq~zNp67PmYT1vuywFeuMrrQ5XNswz9Q8dCo4BQvEzioT3ydZET8pw9PlEbQHx9r7FWUSR8JeW2g1xN20F2TOw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Minnesota Senate Media Services","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","Senate File 569, a resolution from Senator Marty asking Congress to propose a constitutional amendment to clarify that constitutional rights belong to natural persons and to permit limits on campaign spending, received testimony and was laid over for further consideration Feb. 6, 2025.

Senator Marty framed the proposal as a response to the U.S. Supreme Court's Citizens United and related decisions, arguing those rulings have allowed corporations and outside groups to inject large sums into campaigns and to claim constitutional protections. \"Political money is corrupting our democracy,\" Marty said, citing national spending figures and public opinion data about donor influence.

Supporters who testified included volunteers and leaders from Minnesota Move to Amend, Common Cause Minnesota and Clean Elections Minnesota. Testifiers described two principles central to the resolution: (1) that only human beings (\"natural persons\") should hold constitutional rights, and (2) that money in political campaigns is not equivalent to speech and may be regulated to ensure equal access to the political process. Testimony cited Citizens United v. FEC (2010) and former and ongoing examples of independent dark‑money spending to argue for congressional action.

After public testimony, the committee agreed to lay the resolution on the table for further consideration and additional vetting. Senator Barr moved to lay the matter on the table; the chair accepted the motion and announced the bill was laid over. Members asked sponsors and proponents to provide written questions and suggestions in advance of the next hearing to expedite discussion.

No final committee vote on the substance of the resolution occurred; the layover preserves the record and allows the sponsor time to gather input and potential revisions before the committee takes further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Elections - 02/06/25","oneSentenceSummary","Senate File 569, a resolution urging Congress to draft a constitutional amendment to limit corporate constitutional rights and allow regulation of campaign spending, received testimony from reform groups and was laid over for further consideration at the sponsor's request.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature MN, Minnesota","taxId",77817,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348503,"Senate panel advances constitutional amendment to enshrine \"free, fair and equal\" elections after contentious amendment votes",4286,622000,4908000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b&start=622&end=4908","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b/thumbnail_622000.jpg","/articles/6348503/Minnesota/Senate-panel-advances-constitutional-amendment-to-enshrine-free-fair-and-equal-elections-after-contentious-amendment-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348503-b8968ff8e7434d71722f6ffdbff55210/orig.mp4?Expires=1770695726&Signature=Cf0WdfFgpCiuvIZD4VAXMvRtVpVq9ALHKUW9DnMSti-v5a4o9ubrDkSa-zhkUG53Zd-fhNy8i9OEWpjS-e7nEw-ctSXEk05fgN4NYZtW1lO~KxfhFTx4MnT8IoiH2UYH7R8RjQGR3w7zsfuYZCj-T67-9icvOt6N5raS~tWzXGZzfx5-urOsLsdC80ptZgxb0QEqsP3SdCiirmOb6tBc8o8oFcEWKYMH4fanLi~pSc9I8WL-lyxCK7MsxEi2xDgivLF1Ome1jyzqPeVrE79PCjnsstgQLZ71oALDH6zQwmDrvnH6hHGAE~31ZzphakFZtEi0o3FsrJgYdngZLOXGsw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Senate Elections Committee voted Feb. 6, 2025, to advance Senate File 529, a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a guarantee of \"free, fair and equal\" elections and bar civil or military interference with the right to vote. The committee's action sends the measure to the Committee on Rules and Administration by a roll‑call vote of 6–5.

Senator John Dibble (bill sponsor) opened the discussion by saying the amendment is intended to enshrine voting as a fundamental right and to provide an additional constitutional guard against laws or practices that suppress access to the franchise. \"We understand very clearly that for every person, they are entitled to one vote,\" Dibble told the committee, and he cited other states that have used similar language.

Testimony supporting the amendment came from David Fisher of Clean Elections Minnesota and Jean Massey of FairVote Minnesota, who urged the committee to let Minnesota voters decide the question. Fisher invoked historical and contemporary examples and argued the amendment could \"clear the air\" around contested election rules; Massey called the proposal a bipartisan, nonpartisan safeguard to protect access and confidence in elections.

The committee's debate focused on the amendment's wording and possible judicial interpretation. Senator Lucero proposed an oral amendment to insert \"ensuring 1 eligible citizen, 1 vote\" after the phrase \"free, fair, and equal.\" Lucero said the insertion would clarify the intent and emphasize \"one person, one vote.\" The committee held a roll‑call vote on that amendment; it failed 5–6. Later, Lucero offered a second oral amendment to add the phrase \"have integrity\" (and to include similar language in the ballot question). That amendment also failed on a roll call, 5–6.

Senator Matthews offered a written A2 amendment to add the words \"transparent and secure\" after \"free, fair, and equal.\" The sponsor, proponents and testifiers discussed whether adding adjectives would introduce ambiguity or invite litigation; some testifiers warned additional qualifiers could create more grounds for legal challenges. The Matthews A2 amendment was put to a roll call and failed 5–6.

After further discussion, Senator Limmer moved to lay the bill on the table for further review; that motion failed on a roll call, 5–6. The committee then voted on Senator Dibble's motion that Senate File 529 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. The clerk recorded a roll‑call vote of 6 ayes and 5 nays; the motion prevailed and the bill was forwarded to Rules.

Throughout the hearing members raised concerns about the potential breadth of the proposed language, possible consequences in emergencies or for administrative changes, and whether the concepts of \"free, fair and equal\" require additional definition. Supporters argued the language is short, consistent with provisions adopted by 30 other states, and would serve as a constitutional guardrail in future disputes over election law.

The committee also recorded requests for roll call on several amendments and on the final motion. No final judicial interpretation was made at the hearing; senators debated both the rhetorical value of the amendment and the practical risks of inserting additional qualifiers into constitutional text.","The Senate Elections Committee advanced a constitutional amendment bill to enshrine free, fair and equal elections in the Minnesota Constitution (Senate File 529). Multiple floor amendments were proposed and defeated by roll call; the committee voted 6–5 to pass and refer the bill to Rules and Administration.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348508,"Senate Elections Committee recommends confirmation of Steven Swanson to Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board",621,30000,651000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b&start=30&end=651","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2241713-cb71ae17768389ec7e706c3cd32c4e3b/thumbnail_30000.jpg","/articles/6348508/Minnesota/Senate-Elections-Committee-recommends-confirmation-of-Steven-Swanson-to-Campaign-Finance-and-Public-Disclosure-Board","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348508-1b441813ac82d2a26e8156c289e2ee7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770695726&Signature=H6lgxGSyYDet6MGNOpYSdDdSBgOWv8TMOEvv35-9CoDRjOSlULDojVCTD3A1LtH0Skh6YYCCa56X9h~2YEr8taLIqACTS-GYIQi0kWcSXhZvd5WONR~tRA4XnqGUcaSnuDk4X19jOiB2Fi1xIfFQ9i5kd7dZm08e325R~GRP8VSKCc5Joeaf4dnweHxQlyvD0WoE8qBAtsKLzkn4~34VITi8hn2~MIRQaVK6~2BzHTtwljylFTIlaUaEGynhz3GVVogB3qWxSfx0aCVJz1flFzWqFsh6j94xRjGij~GvTo0i2v-hnHqUjnpYEjDBSqz4baZiVdmA87yQlginhESbcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minnesota Senate Elections Committee voted on Feb. 6, 2025, to recommend confirmation of Steven Swanson to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board following a virtual appearance in which Swanson described his legal and judicial background and discussed priorities for the agency.

Swanson, testifying remotely, outlined a career that included roughly 20 years with the Minneapolis Legal Aid Society (10 years as managing attorney of the Legal Services Advocacy Project), a decade as a full‑time legislative lobbyist, about 20 years as a district court judge in Hampton County, and international rule‑of‑law assignments in Bosnia, Afghanistan and Lebanon. \"I think at the top of mind, is the need to insure the corporations are not participating — either income contributions or other types of contributions — in the electoral process in Minnesota,\" Swanson said in response to a committee question about priorities.

The nut of the committee's action was procedural: Chair Carlson opened the floor to questions and, finding none beyond the brief exchange, called for a motion. Senator Swazinski moved that the committee recommend Swanson's appointment for confirmation; the chair put the question by voice vote and the motion carried. The committee did not record a roll‑call tally in the transcript; the clerk announced only that the motion was adopted and that Swanson's appointment was recommended for confirmation.

Committee members and staff present noted Swanson's long public service and legal expertise. Jeff Sigurdsson of the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board sat at the testifier table in the hearing room to answer committee questions if needed; he did not deliver formal remarks in the transcript beyond being introduced. Swanson thanked the committee at the close of the item.

Because this was a recommendation for confirmation, the next steps are administrative: the committee record will accompany the nomination for final action according to Senate rules. No additional formal votes or amendments related to this appointment were recorded during this meeting.

Clarifying details from Swanson's remarks included his statement he has been on the board \"going on 8 years,\" that he served roughly 20 years with Minneapolis Legal Aid and 20 years as a district court judge, and that he spent two years living and working in Kabul on a USAID rule‑of‑law project.","The Senate Elections Committee voted to recommend confirmation of Steven Swanson to the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board after a brief virtual appearance in which Swanson reviewed his legal and judicial background and urged enforcement against corporate participation in elections.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee lays over Marty resolution asking Congress to propose amendment reversing corporate personhood and Citizens United

Senate panel advances constitutional amendment to enshrine "free, fair and equal" elections after contentious amendment votes

Senate Elections Committee recommends confirmation of Steven Swanson to Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board