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Jury hears Trump and Cohen Discussing Hush-Money Deal on secret recording; Nature-based solutions help solve Mississippi River Delta problems; Public lands groups cheer the expansion of two CA national monuments; 'Art Against the Odds' shines a light on artists in the WI justice system.

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President Biden defends dissent but says "order must prevail" on campus, former President Trump won't commit to accepting the 2024 election results and Nebraska lawmakers circumvent a ballot measure repealing private school vouchers.

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Bidding begins soon for Wyoming's elk antlers, Southeastern states gained population in the past year, small rural energy projects are losing out to bigger proposals, and a rural arts cooperative is filling the gap for schools in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Senate Vote Expected Today on Amendment to Limit Campaign Spending

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Thursday, July 10, 2014   

SALT LAKE CITY - Senator Orrin Hatch is opposed to a proposed constitutional amendment that would give Congress and states control of political campaign spending limits, but unlike most of his Senate colleagues, Hatch is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee - and in a position to vote on the matter this week. Senate Joint Resolution 19 is expected to come before the committee on Thursday.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern, campaign co-director with Public Citizen, says the amendment would help reverse the effect big money has had on elections following multiple U.S. Supreme Court rulings that have increased campaign spending limits.

"Across political lines, people are saying they want a constitutional amendment, they want big money out of our political system," says Minkoff-Zern. "They see they're no longer in control of the people who are supposed to represent them."

Minkoff-Zern says Supreme Court rulings - in Buckley versus Valeo in the 1970s and the more recent Citizens United and McCutcheon cases - have determined spending money on elections is a form of speech or opinion, thereby making campaign contributions, not simply campaign messages, a First Amendment issue.

A Senate subcommittee approved Senate Joint Resolution 19 last month, and passage Thursday by the Senate Judiciary Committee will likely lead to a full Senate vote later this summer.

Minkoff-Zern says Utahns can help by asking the state's congressional delegation to support the constitutional amendment.

"The senators of Utah need to know their constituents want them to take a stand and support a constitutional amendment," he says. "We're sick and tired of our country being bought and sold. We want our democracy back for the people."

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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