CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Recognizing that many of our nation’s public policy disasters are a result of the corrupting influence of money, the Justice Movement supports major campaign finance reform legislation and the overruling of the Citizens United case, by a constitutional amendment if necessary.
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There are two things that are important in politics. The first is money, and I can’t remember the second.
– Senator Mark Hanna (1895) |
The Record of Republicans and Democrats
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) limited independent political campaign expenditures by corporations and unions. In 2010, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision, Citizens United, declaring unconstitutional the BCRA, thereby allowing corporations and unions to make unlimited contributions to help candidates or political parties.
Both parties since then have had the opportunity to push for the overturning of Citizens United by a constitutional amendment but have utterly failed to do so––no doubt because they are both feeding from the same trough of corrupting money.
Politicians have garnered millions of dollars in campaign contributions, while government policies continue to be the opposite of what the majority of people in the United States want (e.g., a reduction in incarceration rates; an end to the failed “war on drugs,” equal educational opportunities and an end to crushing student debt; effective action on the climate crisis; an end to warrantless government surveillance; fairness in taxation; fiscal responsibility; immigration reform; universal health care; an end to presidential war-making; and campaign finance reform). In short, the role of money in politics is not only corrupting, but it is anti-democratic, as the interests of campaign contributors take precedence over the public interest.
For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) spent $30 million on contributions to President Trump in 2016.[93] This led to a decrease in background checks and an increase in the sale of automatic rifles.
Enormous political contributions are not limited to one political party. During 2019-2020, Bloomberg LP contributed over $170 million to Democrats.[94]
Both parties are clearly to blame for not pushing to overturn Citizens United and otherwise cleaning up our campaign finance system. The American people deserve so much better.
Both parties since then have had the opportunity to push for the overturning of Citizens United by a constitutional amendment but have utterly failed to do so––no doubt because they are both feeding from the same trough of corrupting money.
Politicians have garnered millions of dollars in campaign contributions, while government policies continue to be the opposite of what the majority of people in the United States want (e.g., a reduction in incarceration rates; an end to the failed “war on drugs,” equal educational opportunities and an end to crushing student debt; effective action on the climate crisis; an end to warrantless government surveillance; fairness in taxation; fiscal responsibility; immigration reform; universal health care; an end to presidential war-making; and campaign finance reform). In short, the role of money in politics is not only corrupting, but it is anti-democratic, as the interests of campaign contributors take precedence over the public interest.
For example, the National Rifle Association (NRA) spent $30 million on contributions to President Trump in 2016.[93] This led to a decrease in background checks and an increase in the sale of automatic rifles.
Enormous political contributions are not limited to one political party. During 2019-2020, Bloomberg LP contributed over $170 million to Democrats.[94]
Both parties are clearly to blame for not pushing to overturn Citizens United and otherwise cleaning up our campaign finance system. The American people deserve so much better.
Public Support for Campaign Finance Reform
Most Americans want legislation that will prevent, or at least limit, corporate contributions to political campaigns. Seventy-seven percent of Americans say that there should be a limit on the amount of money individuals and groups can spend on campaigns. Sixty-five percent of Americans say that there should be new laws written that would reduce the role of money in politics.[95]
According to a study from the University of Maryland, 66% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats support a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United.[96] However, large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals continue to make large contributions in order to have their way with our government.
While most Americans want change, the corrupting influence of money in our political system leads to elected officials doing the bidding of their contributors rather than promoting the public interest. The very foundations of our democracy are thereby severely undermined.
According to a study from the University of Maryland, 66% of Republicans and 85% of Democrats support a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United.[96] However, large corporations and extremely wealthy individuals continue to make large contributions in order to have their way with our government.
While most Americans want change, the corrupting influence of money in our political system leads to elected officials doing the bidding of their contributors rather than promoting the public interest. The very foundations of our democracy are thereby severely undermined.
[93] Haberman, M., Karni, A., & Hakim, D. “N.R.A. gets results on gun laws in one phone call with Trump,” The New York Times (August 21, 2019), available at
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/us/politics/trump-gun-control-nra.html.
[94] “Who are the Biggest Organization Donors?,” OpenSecrets, available at https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/top organizations.
[95] Bradley Jones, “Most Americans Want to Limit Campaign Spending,” Pew Research Center (Pew Research Center, May 30, 2020),
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/08/most-americans-want-to-limit-campaign-spending-say-big-donor s-have-greater-political-influence/.
[96] Ashley Balcerzak, “Study: Most Americans want to kill 'Citizens United' with Constitutional Amendment,” The World, The Center for Public Integrity,
https://theworld.org/stories/2018-05-10/study-most-americans-want-kill-citizens-united-constitutional-amendment.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/us/politics/trump-gun-control-nra.html.
[94] “Who are the Biggest Organization Donors?,” OpenSecrets, available at https://www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/top organizations.
[95] Bradley Jones, “Most Americans Want to Limit Campaign Spending,” Pew Research Center (Pew Research Center, May 30, 2020),
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/08/most-americans-want-to-limit-campaign-spending-say-big-donor s-have-greater-political-influence/.
[96] Ashley Balcerzak, “Study: Most Americans want to kill 'Citizens United' with Constitutional Amendment,” The World, The Center for Public Integrity,
https://theworld.org/stories/2018-05-10/study-most-americans-want-kill-citizens-united-constitutional-amendment.
