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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Senate Debates What Could Be 28th Amendment To The U.S. Constitution

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Thursday, September 11, 2014   

PHOENIX - The U.S. Senate is involved in an historic debate over a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress and the states control of political campaign spending limits. Senator Tom Udall (D-N.M.) sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 19, which could become the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

On the Senate floor, Udall said a growing number of Americans want big money out of politics.

"Over three million people have signed petitions in support of a constitutional amendment," Udall said. "Sixteen states, over 550 cities and towns, are pushing for reform and demanding a more level playing field."

The Senate is expected to vote on the amendment this week. It would counteract U.S. Supreme Court rulings such as Citizens United, which lifted limits on some campaign donations made by businesses.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern, campaign co-director at Public Citizen, said he believes Senate Republicans, who largely oppose the amendment, agreed to debate it because big money in politics has become part of the national conversation.

"It's probably attributable just to the really popular energy around this that Republicans felt they couldn't shut down debate," Minkoff-Zern said. "It's been really exciting to hear the debate all week this week, showing that there's not a viable argument against a constitutional amendment."

Passage of a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in Congress and support from three-quarters, or 38, of the states.


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