Campaign Finance Reform: The role of money
Coverage of Supreme Court Decision on Arizona's Campaign Finance Laws
Justices Strike Down Arizona's Campaing Finance Law-June 27, 2011
The Suprisingly Good News in the Supreme Court's New Decision- June 27, 2011
Coverage of the Citizens United Decision
Read a PDF copy of the opinion here.
Read the LWVUS statement here.
Summary:
"The Supreme Court may have changed the landscape of campaign spending today: in issuing its decision on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, it announced that corporations and unions can now spend money directly in support of candidates.
This basically eliminates a middleman: before today, corporations and unions had to set up PACs (political action committees), filed separately with the IRS, that would receive donations. And they did. Corporations and unions spend millions of dollars on elections. Now, however, the accounting firewall is gone, and Wal-Mart or the Service Employees International Union, for instance, can spend their corporate money directly on candidates." Edited by Marc Ambinder
The Atlantic
A summary of implications from the case can be viewed here.
Campaign Finance- An Overview
The funding of elections, at all levels, is an instrumental aspect of the analysis of the state of democracy in our country. Major issues include disclosure laws, electronic access to campaign financial forms, and the bundling of campaign contributions.
Midwest Democracy Network released an analysis of campaign finance laws and their status in Minnesota. In the report, they recommend:
- "Disclosure of contribution which are over 100 dollars to candidates, PAC’s, political parties and legislative caucuses
- Voluntary electronic disclosure laws
- Corporations are limited from giving funds directly to candidates, PAC’s or political parties
- Limits on the amount that can be contributed by PAC’s, individuals, political parties and legislative caucuses to candidates
- Partial public financing system for candidates who qualify
- Political contribution refunds (PCR)’s are provided by the state to an individual for qualifying contributions to state legislative and constitutional office candidates"
Recent News
Campaign finance watchdog says those to be picked for deficit panel shouldn’t keep fundraising – The Washington Post. August 4, 2011
Full 8th Circuit to hear Minnesota disclosure law case-July 13, 2011
Despite Ruling Public Financing Remains Viable Option for Empowering Small Donors-June 27, 2011
Judge again rules ban on corporate campaign donations unconstitutional-June 7, 2011
Target Urged to Change Tune on Political Giving-June 7, 2011
Citizens United decision reverberates in courts across the country-May 22, 2011
Federal Court Upholds Campaign Disclosure Law- May 16, 2011
More Campaign Finance News
Campaign Finance Resources
Center for Responsive Politics
Federal Elections Commission
Campaign Finance Institute
Center for Governmental Studies
Common Cause Minnesota
Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board
Minnesota Secretary of State
Follow the Money: Investigate Money in State Politics