Editor,

Statewide Initiative 735 will be on the ballot in November’s general election. It calls for Washington state to join 17 other states asking Congress for a constitutional amendment to restore our right to limit big money in politics. Here on Whidbey, each of our city councils has already passed a similar resolution, and they did it unanimously.

The spending of money to influence elections is not the same as free speech under the First Amendment. We should be able to limit individual political contributions and get political donor information for all 527 and 501c-4 contributions — not just donations that go directly to candidates.

As well as restoring our right to limit individual contributions, we have to overturn the Citizens United decision which gave corporations the same rights as real human citizens. We believe this amendment is needed to win back a democracy that works for all Americans, not just the wealthiest few. Visit www.wamend.org if you believe this is important and want to help. You can find out more about this important initiative.

I also want to thank all of you who signed initiative I-735 to get it on the ballot and I hope you will spread the word to vote for it in November.

ALICE GOSS

Clinton