‘Move to Amend’ Measure Tabled by City Council

A group of citizens in Lakewood wants the city to take a stand against the idea that corporations are equal to people and money is equivalent to speech.

But the idea hasn’t gotten much support from Lakewood City Council, which voted to table the measure. Council’s rules and ordinances committee recently voted down adoption of the proposal.

A motion by Ward 2 councilman Tom Bullock to support the idea was met with silence when a motion for a second was called at Monday night’s meeting.

Instead, council agreed to table the measure.

The citizens group is aligned with the national Move to Amend, which is fighting some of the recent changes in campaign funding.

According to its website, the organization wants to see a federal amendment to the U.S. Constitution stating that “inalienable rights belong to human beings only” and that money is not protected free speech. 

Other communities in Northeast Ohio — including Cleveland, Cleveland Heights and Brecksville — have supported similar initiatives, but it's not yet clear whether Lakewood will join them.