Feingold Wary of Upcoming Ruling on Campaign Finance

[babylonsister]

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/01/12-6

Feingold Wary of Upcoming Ruling on Campaign Finance
Supreme Court decision on case that challenges legislation expected soon

by Larry Bivins


WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on a case that challenges one of the primary provisions in Sen. Russ Feingold's signature campaign finance legislation.

The court's decision, which could come as early as this week, could have monumental consequences for the influence of corporate and union money on elections.

The case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, centers on one of two primary provisions in the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002, commonly known as the McCain-Feingold bill after authors Feingold and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. The law banned ''soft'' money, or large unregulated donations, and limited electioneering communications such as political advertising.

Citizens United, an independent group, has challenged an FEC ruling that prohibited the group from airing a documentary on 2008 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton titled "Hillary: The Movie." The FEC said the group, which received corporate donations, could not run the documentary because it advocated the defeat of a political candidate within 60 days of a general election. The group had intended to air the documentary via a video-on-demand service.

snip//


In an October statement to his colleagues on the Senate Floor, Feingold said the voice of individual citizens would be drowned out if the ban on corporate and union spending on political ads is lifted.

"Our elections would become like NASCAR races - underwritten by companies," Feingold said. "Only in this case, the corporate underwriters wouldn't just be seeking publicity, they would be seeking laws and policies that the candidates have the power to provide."

Tara Malloy, associate counsel for the Campaign Legal Center, said removing spending restrictions on political ads would give corporations huge advantages in elections.

"Corporations have almost unlimited resources," Malloy said. "Once you allow these vast amounts of treasury funds into elections, the fear is that there would be a quid pro quo."

[notesdev]

1. Uh...

"Our elections would become like NASCAR races - underwritten by companies," Feingold said. "Only in this case, the corporate underwriters wouldn't just be seeking publicity, they would be seeking laws and policies that the candidates have the power to provide."

How exactly is that different than the travesty we have been watching unfold since the Congressional session opened this year? Didn't banks write the bailout legislation, and pharmas/insurers write the health care insurance legislation?

[Cleita]

2. I'm reading up on it and not liking where it could go.

Stay tuned. If the corporations get a ruling in their favor, we might as well not even bother to vote anymore.

[gateley]

3. k&R nt