Election Reform Ohio's Marcy Kaptur ,Campaign Finance Reform Advocate
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
112th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 4
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court misinterpreted the First Amendment to the Constitution in the case of Buckley v. Valeo.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 5, 2011
Ms. KAPTUR submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court misinterpreted the First Amendment to the Constitution in the case of Buckley v. Valeo.
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that the Supreme Court misinterpreted the First Amendment to the Constitution in its decision in the 1976 case of Buckley v. Valeo because--
(1) the decision failed to recognize that the unlimited spending of large amounts of money on elections has a corrosive effect on the electoral process not simply because of direct transactions between those who give large amounts of money and candidates and elected officials but because the presence of unlimited amounts of money corrupts the process on a more fundamental level; and
(2) the decision failed to recognize other legitimate state interests which justify limiting money in campaigns, including the need to preserve the integrity of our republican form of government, restore public confidence in government, and ensure all citizens a more equal opportunity to participate in the political process.