Haines group asks candidates to challenge corporate personhood

A group from Haines is asking candidates in the upcoming general election to sign a pledge to support the amendment of existing Alaska laws to clarify that the term “person” means only an individual human being.

We the People Alaska was started by Haines resident Gershon Cohen in response to the Citizens United supreme court ruling, which allows corporations and unions to make financial contributions to political campaigns under the first amendment.

State governor candidates Mark Begich and Bill Walker have signed the pledge along with Sarah Hannan and Chris Dimond who are running for House District 33, which encompasses the Upper Lynn Canal. Recently, Cohen visited KHNS to discuss the initiative and what the organization is trying to accomplish by having candidates sign this pledge.