Petaluma joins national movement to address the idea of corporate personhood

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Petaluma joins national movement to address the idea of corporate personhood
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By Jamie Hansen
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Published: Monday, January 16, 2012 at 3:00 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 13, 2012 at 10:27 a.m.

Petaluma joined a growing number of cities Monday in calling for a constitutional amendment that would address the idea of corporate personhood and limit political spending by corporations.

The idea that corporations have free speech rights similar to those of people is not new, emerging through judicial rulings over time. But it has received heightened criticism since Jan. 2010, when the United States Supreme Court used that concept to hold that government can’t limit campaign finance spending by corporations.

Many say that the effects of that ruling have been felt in both national and local politics, allowing corporations to fund often-inflammatory campaign advertisements.

Mayor David Glass said that while the effect of corporate money in campaigns wasn’t unique to Petaluma, he had seen it color political races in Petaluma and in the county.

The effect stood out in the last election cycle, he said, which had “as dirty and hostile an environment I’ve ever witnessed.”

The call for congress to address corporate personhood and campaign spending has amplified across the country recently, with the Occupy movement and other grassroots organizations calling for a change, as well as a growing list of local governments that includes Los Angeles, Oakland and Berkeley.

Amy Hanks, a member of Occupy Petaluma, spoke in favor of the resolution, adding that anger over “this latest assault on our democracy” was one of the factors that led to the Occupy movement. She also announced that Occupy Petaluma has started a new campaign focused on getting corporate money out of the political system.

Councilmember Teresa Barrett, who proposed the resolution in December, said that the Los Angeles City Council’s decision was in part what motivated her.

“When I saw that Los Angeles passed it unanimously, I was surprised,” she said, adding that the council doesn’t often make unanimous decisions.

Petaluma’s resolution passed with a 6-1 vote.

Councilmember Mike Harris cast the dissenting vote. “Berkeley will be proud, but I’m not sure the citizens of Petaluma will be pumped we’re spending time on this issue,” he said in a phone interview, adding that he felt there were more pressing issues to address, such as potholes.

Coucilmember Chris Albertson voted for the resolution, though he expressed concern over the precedent of calling for constitutional amendments.

(Contact Jamie Hansen at jamie.hansen@argus courier.com)