In the News
NY Times: Contributions Don’t Corrupt Politicians
By Bradley A. SmithHistorically, elections have always been funded by the “1 percent.” Even in the earliest days of our republic, wealthy individuals like Thurlow Weed and corporations such as the Bank of the United States were key funders of campaigns. Yet we survived and thrived. In 1968, the last presidential election before passage of the Federal Election Campaign Act, Eugene McCarthy got his influential anti-war campaign off the ground in days, thanks to a handful of wealthy individuals who contributed the equivalent of several million each in today’s dollars.
CCP
Campaign finance disclosure, Spiderman, and Emily Litella
Brad SmithIn striking a balance, it is important to start by remembering that, under our existing campaign finance disclosure laws, we do know who pays for ads – we just don’t always know all we’d like to know about them
Brad Smith and CCP Experts in the News this Week
By Joe TrotterIt has been a busy week in the world of campaign finance.
Independent groups
Washington Post: Netroots Nation: On super PAC spending, Democratic senators come out for fighting fire with fire
By Felicia SonmezDemocrats have a fever, and the only prescription is more super PACs.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
NPR: There’s More Secret Money In Politics; Justice Kennedy Might Be Surprised
By Peter OverbyFederal election law has required the public disclosure of campaign donors for nearly 40 years.
Elections
Reuters: Factbox: A guide to the world of campaign financing
By Patricia Zengerle and Alexander CohenOutside of the candidates’ own efforts lies a satellite system of fundraising – a dizzying array of surrogates, parties and interest groups, subject to complicated and controversial U.S. campaign finance rules.
Disclosure
Mercury News: SEC should require full disclosure of corporate political spending
By Bill LockyerCalifornians concerned about uncontrolled election spending by corporations should tell the SEC they support the rule because it throws more light on these payments, makes companies more accountable for their spending and helps protect all investors — not just entities like CalPERS, with its $227 billion in assets, but Mom and Pop and their nest egg, too. Public Citizen’s website provides a convenient way to submit a comment.
NY Times: The G.O.P.’s Gay Trajectory
By Frank BruniNow, Singer says, he’s providing $1 million to start a new “super PAC” with several Republican compatriots. Named American Unity PAC, its sole mission will be to encourage Republican candidates to support same-sex marriage, in part by helping them to feel financially shielded from any blowback from well-funded groups that oppose it.
Candidates and parties
National Journal: Ad Spending Tops $100 Million in Presidential Race
By Reid WilsonPresident Obama, Mitt Romney, and the outside groups bolstering their campaigns have spent more than $100 million on television advertising, according to sources tracking the buys.
Lobbying and ethics
Bloomberg: Obama Aides Helped Plan Ads To Back Health Bill, GOP Says
By Drew Armstrong‘‘The president has publicly condemned corporations funding advertisements through ‘innocuous-sounding’ third party groups, but he was more than happy to privately cut a deal with big drug companies to help push his health care bill, ’’ Pitts said.
Roll Call: Vote on Campaign Ad Data Renews Lobbying Fight
By Eliza Newlin CarneyWhen a House Appropriations subcommittee voted this week to block funding for a new Federal Communications Commission program that would require broadcasters to post campaign ad data online, watchdogs quickly blamed the National Association of Broadcasters.
