Campaign Finance Reform

Overturning Effects of Citizens United, Constitutional Amendment, or Using Our Constitution?

Under the Supreme Court’s 2010 ruling of Citizen’s United versus the Federal Election Commission, corporations and labor unions were granted the first amendment rights of freedom of speech, thus being the right to donate unlimited sums to political groups. This year the Court’s ruling has resulted in tens of millions of dollars flowing into the campaign process. To counteract this ruling Common Cause, Move to Amend and other progressive groups have sought for a constitutional amendment to overrule the Court on this point. City councils such as Los Angeles have already passed constitutional amendment stances. Progressive critics of the constitutional amendment route have stated it is too lengthy and long, requiring a 2/3 vote majority in each House as well as ratification of 3/4 of the states within 7 years. The Court would still be left with the upper hand with other financial areas of jurisdiction in the election process. The alternative route is now being promoted, as simple as it is, that of using the Constitution itself under Article 1, which gives Congress the power to determine laws governing the financing of elections, and not the Court. Under Article 1, Congress has the power to remove jurisdiction of financing election campaigns from the Court. Such laws would require only a majority in each House to pass, thus removing private interest money from campaigns.

For the details on how this can be done, read, Constitutional Amendment Not Needed:Congress Already Has a Remedy by Marc Leas found in Truth-Out.

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Fighting for Our Voting Rights

It seems as Americans that fighting for our rights is as old as the foundation of the nation. However more than 235 years after our new nation was formed we are still fighting for the right for all peoples of our country to have a say in how it is governed through their vote. To restrict the voting rights of our more vulnerable fellow Americans is to bring an eerie reminder to us all that unless we stay diligent, all that a just society has worked towards will be taken from us. Restrictive voting laws have passed quickly throughout the nation this year, affecting mostly the young, low-income, minorities, and the disabled.Thankfully we have the Brennan Center amongst other organizations which will contest these laws, but until they succeed, all of us will need to work harder. The Brennan Center's Study on Voting Law Changes in 2012 estimates that the states that have passed restrictive laws provide 171 electoral votes, just over 60% of the needed 270 for election. Of the 19 new laws passed, at least 5 million voters will be effected by five areas targeted by those seeking to restrict voting rights.The five areas include government issued photo I.D's, reducing early voting periods, ending same day voter registration on election day and restricting voting rights of former felons. A bright spot in voting registration is the new California law signed recently by governor Jerry Brown. This law allows voters to vote online.SB 397, authored by Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco is a federally compliant voter data base which will allow 9 million more Californians to vote who were eligible to vote last year,yet not registered. Voting signatures will be verified by the DMV and at voting time they will be compared.North Carolina is now considering this, 34 states allow online voting registration.Know your state's voting laws and write your legislators to tell them to open voting rights to all the peoples of their state for a democracy we can trust.

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Fair Elections Now Act Reintroduced in Spring

The bipartisan Fair Elections Now Act was reintroduced this spring to ensure Americans get the government they deserve. A government in which our representatives are spending more time meeting the needs of the American people instead of constant fund raising from big money donors.This bill was introduced by Senator Durbin (Ill) and Representative Larson (CT).This bill is similar to many state campaign finance reform bills in requiring large numbers of small contributions from the communites of the candidates in order to receive matching federal funds. Representaive Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) perhaps stated it best by saying,"The big banks and drug companies have too much influence in Washington.If they want to invest in our government, let them pay their fair share of taxes rather than paying for politicians wo will write them special tax breaks. Its time to get corporate money out of politics and put elections back in the hands of ordinary Americans". Capitol Voice endorses the Fair Elections Now Act and encourages it's members to contact their representatives to support this important campaign reform measure. For more statements from the sponsors and more details on this bill see Fair Elections Now.

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Republicans Seek to Repeal Presidential Campaign Public Financing System

Republicans are seeking to repeal the presidential campaign financing system, leaving the door further open to the influence of big money donors to heavily effect our presidential elections. This system was kept somewhat more in check under public financing whereby public funds for general elections allowed the candidates to spend more time listening to their voters, understanding their issues.Without the benefit of committee hearings and studied debate, this repeal can prove disasterous to how we choose to look at our candidates and what we want from them.Having them pander to those who have donated the most money will not ensure a strong democracy.

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Ohio's Marcy Kaptur ,Campaign Finance Reform Advocate

Long term Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur has lead the way in the House with numerous Campaign Finance Reform measures. She has introduced a bill to require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising along with a bill limiting the influence of other countries upon our campaigns.She also has put together a bill on amending the constitution relating to limitations on the amounts of contributions and expenditures that may be made in connection with campaigns for election to public office. You may remember Representative Kaptur from Michael Moore's interview with her in his film Capitalism, concerning the financial crisis.He had asked her if the bailout, under the tense circumstances the congress was in, could be called a "takeover" by the financial institutions who caused the problem. Standing on the capitol steps she replied, yes you can call it that.There is a momentum growing throughout grassroots organizations to defend campaign finance reform laws through amending the Constitution, groups such as Reclaim Democracy have strongly backed such an effort.

In preparation for future court cases involving first amendments rights, Representative Kaptur has introduced a bill stating the Supreme Court misinterpreted the first amendment to the constitution in the public finance campaign case of Buckley vs.Valeo.The Supreme Court decided in 1975 that limitations on campaign expenditures by individuals, groups, and by the candidate themselves placed restrictions on first amendment rights.. For more info contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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