Large Majority Of Mass. Voters Favor Limit On Corportate Political Contributions

BOSTON (AP) — A solid majority of Massachusetts voters favor overturning a U.S. Supreme Court decision that lifted many restrictions on corporate spending in political elections.

Common Cause Massachusetts says nearly 80 percent of voters backed a non-binding referendum on the ballot Tuesday in 170 Bay State communities. The question asked voters if they favored a constitutional amendment that would limit political spending and declare that corporations do not have the same rights as people.

The state Legislature backed a similar resolution earlier this year. According to Common Cause, eight other states and more than 300 municipalities are also on record as seeking to overturn Citizens United.

The 2010 decision was seen as a major factor in the influx of spending by outside groups in the just-completed election cycle.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.