City of West Allis - File #: R-2011-0239

• File #: R-2011-0239
• Version: 1
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 12/6/2011
• In control: Advisory Committee (INACTIVE)
• On agenda: 12/20/2011
• Final action: 12/20/2011
• Title: Resolution relative to placing on the City of West Allis April 3, 2012 Spring Election ballot a referendum on corporate personhood and money as speech.
• Sponsors: Advisory Committee (INACTIVE)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
12/20/2011	1	Advisory Committee (INACTIVE)
12/20/2011	1	Common Council	Adopted	Pass
12/20/2011	1	Advisory Committee (INACTIVE)		Pass
12/6/2011	1	Common Council
12/6/2011	1	Advisory Committee (INACTIVE)	Held

Title
Resolution relative to placing on the City of West Allis April 3, 2012 Spring Election ballot a referendum on corporate personhood and money as speech.
Body
WHEREAS, Wisconsin Statute Section 9.20 provides a method for citizens to petition the Common Council for direct legislation, provided that the appropriate number of valid electors' signatures are produced on a petition; and

WHEREAS, the requisite number of signatures on a direct legislation petition were submitted on November 7, 2011, which petition was certified for sufficiency and form by the City of West Allis Clerk/Treasurer on November 21, 2011; and

WHEREAS, the question on the direct legislation petition reads as follows:

“Shall the City of West Allis adopt the following resolution:

Resolved, the City of West Allis, Wisconsin, calls for reclaiming democracy from the effects of undue corporate influence by amending the United States Constitution to establish that:

1. Only human beings, not corporations, are entitled to constitutional rights, and
2. Money is not speech, and therefore regulating political contributions and spending is not equivalent to limiting political speech.

WHEREAS, upon receipt of a petition for direct legislation containing the requisite number of electors' signatures and having been certified by the City Clerk/Treasurer, the Common Council is required either to pass the resolution without alteration or submit to the electors at the next spring election; and

WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of West Allis believes that a question such as the one submitted would be most appropriately addressed by a referendum placed before the voters of the City of West Allis;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the question which is the topic of the direct legislation petition submitted on November 7, 2011 shall hereby be submitted to the voters of the City of West Allis at the time of the next Spring Election, April 3, 2012, with the question on the ballot ...