Candidate Statement
California State Voter Information Guide, March 5, 2024

John Rose | DEMOCRATIC

Money is not speech and corporations are not people. As we approach America’s 250th Anniversary, politicians divide us and get millions in donations. It’s time to end the corrosive influence of money in politics and put power back into the hands of the people. Every 50 years we’ve amended the Constitution to strengthen democracy– granting voting rights to eighteen-year-olds in the 1970’s, to women in the 1920’s, and all races in the 1870’s. A new amendment stating that Constitutional rights belong to natural persons, not corporations, will restore bipartisan campaign finance reform. Your vote for John Rose supports change. Join at Rose4Us.com/VoteForChange. (as submitted to California Elections Division)
Section 1. [Artificial Entities Such as Corporations Do Not Have Constitutional Rights]
The rights and privileges protected and extended by the Constitution of the United States are the rights and privileges of natural persons only. An artificial entity, such as a corporation, limited liability company, or other entity, established by the laws of any State, the United States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under the Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People, through Federal, State, or local law. The privileges of an artificial entity shall be determined by the People, through Federal, State, or local law, and shall not be construed to be inherent or inalienable.
Section 2. [Money is Not Free Speech]
Federal, State, and local government shall regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures, including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, to ensure that all citizens, regardless of their economic status, have access to the political process, and that no person gains, as a result of that person’s money, substantially more access or ability to influence in any way the election of any candidate for public office or any ballot measure. Federal, State, and local governments shall require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be publicly disclosed. The judiciary shall not construe the spending of money to influence elections to be speech under the First Amendment.
Section 3.
This amendment shall not be construed to abridge the right secured by the Constitution of the United States of the freedom of the press.”.