Tuesday, July 8th, 2025 Church Directory
ANN BURNS from American Promise. (Submitted Photo).

No Support For 28th Amendment

By Ken Francis, Staff Writer
 
After a 35-minute discussion at their third meeting in June, members of the Wright County Board couldn’t come to a consensus about supporting a proposed 28th Constitutional Amendment.
 
Ann Burns and Mary Beth Noll, representing American Promise, gave a presentation about how unlimited campaign spending has a corrupting influence on politics. A Supreme Court decision ruled that money is free speech, and that corporations and organizations had the same rights as individuals to contribute unlimited amounts for campaigns.
 
Burns and Noll asked the board to pass a resolution in support of Senate File 1082 and House File 2139, which would address that Supreme Court ruling on campaign spending.
 
“Imagine a government run by the will of the people and not the power of money,” said Burns. “We have to work together to get there.”
 
After their presentation, each member of the board gave their positions about the amendment.
 
Commissioner Charlie Borrell said he wasn’t in favor of the amendment.
 
“I value that I can donate money and have a bigger voice,” he said. “I don’t want you to take that away from me.”
 
Commissioner Darek Vetsch said he supported the amendment.
 
“This is a step towards local control, individual control,” he said. “I don’t think we’re stifling freedom of speech. We’re saying we want to be heard on an individual level instead of having to pool all our money together.”
 
Commissioner Christine Husom said she understood the reason for the amendment, but wasn’t prepared to vote on it.
 
“The amount of money that goes into elections is immoral,” she said. 
 
She felt there would be those who would find ways around laws and policies to get what they want anyway.
 
“It could backfire,” she said.
 
Commissioner Mark Daleiden said it was an issue that encompassed both political parties.
 
“I find it interesting that it’s the Republicans and Democrats the money spent with,” he said. “I have never seen an Independent really get those funds.”
 
Commissioner Michael Potter felt it wouldn’t make much difference if the county gave its support.
 
“I appreciate what you’re doing here. I just believe it’s going to fall on deaf ears if it ever tries to get higher,” he said. “It’s a nice symbolic gesture to pass a resolution. But I have my doubts that it’s going to get anywhere.
 
Burns said that’s why they were looking for local resolutions - to build support from the ground up. She said passing a resolution didn’t mean the county was taking sides against any specific organization.
 
“It’s not saying you can’t donate to the NRA or donate to the ACLU. It’s saying people have rights and artificial entities don’t,” she said. “It’s also saying our elected representatives now have the authority to consider campaign finance reform. This doesn’t say we must, it says they have the authority if they choose."
 
Vetsch made a motion to pass the resolution. But there was no second.