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!