Slide 1

Campaign Finance

Slide 2

In FAVOR of raising taxes on orphanages Took year-long vacation Proposed a bill that would give TREES the right to vote Is, in fact, three ducks in a man costume* * According to Weekly World News Squirrel hoarder

Slide 3

Cut taxes by 200% End the squirrel occupation Stop frivolous spending All your dreams will come true! PAID FOR BY AMERICANS FOR TRUTH

Slide 4

Campaign Finance How Much $$$? Approximately $7 BILLION was spent during the 2012 election That amounts to $54 spent for every person who voted In some states, that number was more than double

Slide 5

Why spend on elections? Change government policy Values Self-interest Influence government officials?

Slide 6

How do you spend on an election? 2 ways: -Direct contribution (Can be regulated) -Independent Expenditure Express advocacy (Much harder to regulate) Issue advocacy (Only can regulate timing)

Slide 7

How do we regulate? Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) - 1972 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA or McCain-Feingold) - 2002

Slide 8

Opinion Poll

Slide 9

Money = Speech? In Buckley v. Valeo, the Supreme Court essentially said that in fact spending money in express advocacy is equivalent to speech But, contributing directly to a candidate or political party isnt, at least to the same degree

Slide 10

People vs. Corporations Citizens United Corporate speech needs to be protected just like individual speech Justifications like distortion arent good anymore Dissenting Supreme Court Justices (and many others) still concerned

Slide 11

How is spending regulated? -Independent expenditure limits No good -Contribution limits On the way out? Limits on the amount of contributions to individual candidates are still OK Limits on your total amount contributions are not OK as of last year (McCutcheon) -Disclosure rules -Public financing

Slide 12

Going forward Little room for increased spending control the only justification is preventing quid pro quo corruption or its appearance The money always finds a way in Contribution limits may be the next to go down Think about whos behind the message and the candidate!