Is There a Silver Lining to Citizens United?
Democratic bills now pending before the House — The Government by the People Act, and the Senate, the Fair Elections Now Act – propose a grant of $6 in public money for every dollar raised from donors of $150 or less.
.. matched-funding operations, including New York City, suggest that such programs have the potential to significantly alter politics and policy in three different ways.
The first is a shift away from candidate dependence on PACs and other special interest sources and an increase in the amount of money politicians raise from their own constituents.
.. The second effect cited by reformers is the increased likelihood of adoption of legislation generally opposed by business interests, including increases in minimum wage and liberalized family leave policies.
.. The third positive consequence cited by advocates of public financing is the election of more working class and moderate income men and women to state legislatures and city councils.
.. I’ve watched as Maine’s Clean Elections system has transformed the state’s Legislature and opened the door for everyday people like plumbers, teachers, carpenters and firefighters to be able to run for office and compete against deep-pocketed or well-connected opponents.
.. A candidate for Congress choosing to accept matching money would first have to raise $50,000 from 1,000 small donors who give $150 or less and who live in the candidate’s state.
.. Persily raised the possibility, however, that legislation boosting the role of small donors could increase polarization because there is evidence that such donors are “more ideologically motivated” than others. To counter the potential of increased polarization, Persily said that public funding could be expanded to “cut very large checks to the political parties to spend as they wish,” since the parties tend to be moderating forces.
.. For reformers to have a chance requires post-2020 congressional redistricting with Democrats in control in such key states as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and North Carolina, allowing the party to take control of the House in 2022.
.. The Roberts court has deregulated campaign finance on the premise that the only legitimate grounds for restricting money in politics is to prevent explicit corruption.
.. a Supreme Court “that will accept political equality as a compelling interest that justifies reasonable campaign regulations