PRICE: MCCUTCHEON DECISION RISKS CORRUPTION IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
Washington, D.C. – Representative David Price (D-NC) warned today that the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, ruling that aggregate 2-year contribution limits are unconstitutional, opens the door to a small number of millionaires and billionaires having an even more disproportional role in elections and democracy. Rep. Price and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) wrote an amicus brief to the Court urging it to uphold aggregate contribution limits to prevent corruption or the appearance of corruption.
“Since the Watergate era, the Supreme Court has held that unlimited contributions and soft money create the appearance of corruption, or a risk of corruption. The current conservative majority of the Court has made clear it does not agree, systematically destroying, in Citizens United and McCutcheon, laws that limit the influence of big money in politics. Increasingly, a few mega-donors are drowning out the voices of small contributors and ordinary citizens. This compromises trust in government and puts the integrity of our elections at risk.”
The McCutcheon ruling will effectively empower wealthy donors to give the maximum donation to every candidate running for federal office and every political party—approximately $3 million. Because candidates are allowed to donate campaign funds to political parties, which can then funnel funds to targeted campaigns, the ruling in effect reintroduces “soft money.” The previous campaign finance rules allowed donors to give up to $123,200 in total every two years ($48,600 to candidates and $74,600 to parties and committees).
“Today’s ruling will allow big donors to contribute a sum of up to $3 million to candidates and political parties. No donor is going to give that kind of money without expecting something in return. These decisions are tragically misguided at a time when Americans are demanding government of, by and for the people, not government bought and paid for by special interests.”
Rep. Price is the author of the Empowering Citizens Act, which would modernize the public financing system for presidential campaigns and allow Congressional candidates to pursue matching funding, empowering small donors in federal elections. It would also prevent SuperPACs from operating as arms of candidate campaigns by strengthening anti-coordination restrictions.
Rep. Price is also the author of the “Stand By Your Ad” requirement, which requires candidates appear in, and claim responsibility for, the content of their campaign ads. In the coming weeks, he plans to re-introduce his “Stand By Every Ad” Act, which would extend the SBYA requirement to SuperPACs.
# # #