In response to the California Supreme Court Decision this week to uphold the state’s ability to place measures on the ballot pertaining to federal constitutional amendments, Assemblyman Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica) said he will reintroduce legislation to allow California voters the opportunity to demand that the federal government overturn the Citizens United case.

“(The case) will ensure that the First Amendment protections for freedom of speech apply only to natural persons – a vital step in protecting the integrity of our election system,” Bloom said.

In 2014 the Legislature passed a bill that would have placed Proposition 49 on the 2014 ballot.  It asked voters whether Congress should propose, and California should ratify, an amendment to the United States Constitution overturning the “Citizens United” case to clarify that the First Amendment protections for freedom of speech apply only to natural persons.

“Immediately thereafter, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA) filed suit to keep the measure off the ballot,” Bloom said. “As a result, the Supreme Court ordered Prop 49 removed from the November 2014 ballot but without prejudice to the underlying Constitutional issue, which was heard by the Court this past summer. By a 6-1 majority, the Supreme Court (this week) upheld the Legislature’s ability to place non-binding advisory measures on the statewide ballot.”