Senate Joint Resolution 2009 - Introduced SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 2009 BY WEINER , DONAHUE , STAED , DREY , BLAKE , KNOX , TOWNSEND , ZIMMER , WINCKLER , QUIRMBACH , TRONE GARRIOTT , BENNETT , PETERSEN , DOTZLER , HARDMAN , and WAHLS SENA TE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 1 of the State of Iowa relating to corporate participation in 2 the political process. 3 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 5808XS (2) 91 ss/ns
S.J.R. 2009 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 the State of Iowa is proposed: 2 Article VIII of the Constitution of the State of Iowa is 3 amended by adding the following new section: 4 Sec. 1A. Political activity. The people do not intend, and 5 have never intended, the powers and privileges of corporations 6 to include participation in election activity, ballot-issue 7 activity, or financial donations to political candidates 8 or political committees. Powers and privileges related to 9 election activity or ballot-issue activity are not necessary 10 or convenient for regular corporate purposes. Corporations 11 shall not contribute financially or otherwise participate in 12 election activity or ballot-issue activity. This section shall 13 not be construed to prohibit a corporation formed to engage in 14 the creation, sale, or operation of election equipment from 15 engaging in that business. 16 Sec. 2. REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing proposed 17 amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred 18 to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general 19 election for members of the general assembly, and shall be 20 published as provided by law for three months previous to the 21 date of that election. 22 EXPLANATION 23 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 24 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 25 This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the 26 Constitution of the State of Iowa relating to the participation 27 of corporations in the political process. The amendment 28 prohibits corporations from contributing financially or 29 otherwise participating in election activity or ballot-issue 30 activity. The amendment does not prohibit a corporation formed 31 to engage in the creation, sale, or operation of election 32 equipment from engaging in that business. 33 The resolution, if adopted, would be published and then 34 referred to the next general assembly (92nd) for adoption, 35 -1- LSB 5808XS (2) 91 ss/ns 1/ 2
S.J.R. 2009 before being submitted to the electorate for ratification. 1 -2- LSB 5808XS (2) 91 ss/ns 2/ 2