In the News
Learn Liberty (IHS): Money in Politics
Prof. Brad Smith argues that the real result of campaign finance regulation has been to turn elections into “a specialized game for an elite group of people who know the ropes and can manipulate them to their advantage.”
Independent groups
Associated Press: Report: Super PAC, party ad spending nearly on par
WASHINGTON — Outside groups have spent nearly the same as political parties in about two dozen competitive elections this year, a new report found.
WSJ: Will Bloomberg’s Super PAC Spend on Local Races?
By Michael Howard SaulMayor Michael Bloomberg has already pledged to spend millions on political races around the country in the next two weeks, but he said he hasn’t decided whether to tap his personal fortune to help New York City candidates in next year’s municipal elections.
Disclosure
Baltimore Sun: Scare tactics from Question 6 opponents
EditorialWithin hours of a news conference held by Angela McCaskill, who was suspended with pay from her job as head of diversity at Gallaudet University after the school learned that she had signed the petition to put Maryland’s marriage equality act on the ballot, she was featured in a new ad by the Maryland Marriage Alliance that claims Maryland’s Question 6 threatens the liberty and livelihood of anyone who objects to gay marriage.
NY Times: Mauled by Ads, Incumbents Look to Declaw Outside Groups
By JENNIFER STEINHAUER and JONATHAN WEISMANWASHINGTON — An expansive onslaught of negative political advertisements in Congressional races has left many incumbents, including some Republicans long opposed to restrictions on campaign spending, concluding that legislative measures may be in order to curtail the power of the outside groups behind most of the attacks.
Campaign Finance
Huffington Post: Why Bother With Campaign Finance Reform?
By Steve GillmanApart from the many loopholes that will always exist for getting around campaign contribution limits, there is a more fundamental reason that we cannot stop big money from entering politics. It is the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. Unless we want to void that part of our political heritage and imprison people for speaking their minds or for putting their ideas on paper or in videos, politics will always be influenced by large quantities of money. There is no moral way to stop this.
Associated Press: WHY IT MATTERS: Campaign finance
By JACK GILLUMThis presidential election is on track to cost nearly $2 billion. It’s a staggering tab, and those who kick in big money to cover it stand to gain outsized influence over policy decisions by whoever wins. Your voice may not be heard as loudly as a result.
Candidates and parties
National Journal: House Majority PAC Launches Seven New Ads
By Scott BlandHouse Majority PAC released seven new TV ads Tuesday, including five in new congressional districts as the House-focused Democratic super PAC expanded the scope of its advertising.
Lobbying and ethics
NJ.com: Jack Abramoff: Congress members don’t know they’re being bribed
By Louis HochmanMORRIS TOWNSHIP — The problem, Jack Abramoff says, is that public officials don’t think they’re being bribed.
