A new proposal for campaign finance reform would make Saturday Night Live’s political skits illegal, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz has warned. The Senate is debating a proposal to add a constitutional amendment allowing Congress reverse a 2010 Supreme Court decision and restore limits on corporate campaign spending. Republicans say the proposal, put forward by Dems, is an attack on free speech. Cruz, however, went one step further and connected the dots to NBC’s late-night sketch comedy show, and its exec producer Lorne Michaels.

“Lorne Michaels could be put in jail under this amendment for making fun of any politician. That is extremely dangerous,” Cruz argued yesterday afternoon — tossing in a Dana Carvey impression to drive home his point. That’s because, Cruz insisted, the amendment would give congress the “constitutional authority to prohibit” corporations “from engaging in political speech” and, “NBC, which airs Saturday Night Live, is a corporation.”

“Who can forget, in 2008, Saturday Night Live’s wickedly funny characterization of the Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin?” Cruz reminisced. “Wickedly funny — and also had a profound effect of people’s assessment of Sarah Palin — who is a friend of mine.”

The proposal, he said, is “breathtaking and…dangerous.” (SNL this morning announced its 40th season starts September 27 with Chris Pratt hosting). We’ve reached out to NBC for response.