Sacramento - Hundreds of critics of the U.S. Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United ruling, rallied at the state Capitol Saturday afternoon to support an Assembly Joint Resolution urging a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision. 

The resolution, AJR 22, jointly authored by Assemblymembers Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) and Michael Allen (D-Santa Rosa) seeks to overturn the controversial ruling that allows corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money from their treasuries to influence elections. The ruling came in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee case decided on Jan. 21, 2010.  It helped lead to the creation of so-called "Super Pacs" that are already spending millions of dollars in the presidential election.

"Your voice is being echoed by citizens just like you in cities and states big and small across America," Assemblymember Wieckowski told the crowd of about 250 people, who gathered on the steps of the Capitol.  "From Nevada City to New York City, from Hawaii to Montana, American voters our speaking out against huge, anonymous donations."

Speakers from Public Citizen, Common Cause, Move to Amend, CALPIRG, California League of Conservation Voters and roughly 15 other organizations expressed their outrage over the Citizens United decision, which has opened the gates for massive corporate spending in elections. AJR 22 is part of a growing grassroots movement to seek a constitutional amendment.

Below are audio links of Assemblymember Wieckowski discussing the court's ruling.

Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski says passage of AJR 22 will tell Congress that the California Legislature wants a constitutional amendment to overturn the Citizens United ruling. (:23)
http://www.asmdc.org/audio/20120119AJR22Wieckowski3.MP3

Assemblymember Bob Wieckowski says recent polls clearly show voters do not agree with the Supreme Court's ruling. (:11)
http://www.asmdc.org/audio/20120119AJR22Wieckowski4.MP3

CONTACT: Jeff Barbosa, (916) 319-2020