While visiting a group of political bloggers at the PPL building in downtown Charlotte, Senator Charles Schumer was asked about the need to overturn the 2010 Supreme Corut decision, FEC v. Citizens United.  Schumer responded:

 “Citizens United is probably the worst court decision since Plessy v. Fergusen, which I believe it was 1896 said separate but equal was ok. Listen to this fact: 60% of all the Super Pac money on the Republican side comes from 17 people.  That approaches an oligarchy, were a small number of people have such huge influence it’s disproportionate.  I think we need an amendment for Citizens United, it should be one of our highest priorities.  I would be for a Constitutional amendment. “

 The Democratic Party’s National Platform briefly touches on campaign finance reform, stating merely, “We support campaign finance reform, by constitutional amendment if necessary.”

In a recent conversation at Reddit.com, President Barack Obama wrote of the “need to seriously consider mobilizing a constitutional amendment process to overturn Citizens United (assuming the Supreme Court doesn’t revisit it),” providing momentum to an effort that began months after the Supreme Court decision and has been spearheaded in the Senate by Sheldon Whitehouse (D.RI).

Senator Schumer also called for Duke Energy and its CEO, Jim Rodgers, to leave the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).  Rodgers has personally donated $100,000 to the Democratic National Convention, and Duke Energy has lent considerable resources to the Convention Host Committee.    Schumer also voiced his support for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prevent employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, lamenting the disappearance of moderate Republicans who once supported such legislation.