Will Supreme Court Expand "Money As Speech" Ruse and Strike Donation Limits?

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/10/07-8



On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a case that could further expand the reach of its controversial ruling that political spending is a form of speech protected by the First Amendment -- and unleash even more money into election campaigns.

n McCutcheon v. FEC, the Court will hear a challenge to regulations on the total amount a person can contribute to political candidates. The Court's five-person majority in recent years has expressed hostility to limits on expenditures made "independent" of political campaigns, most famously in Citizens United, which struck down limits on corporate independent expenditures and paved the way for Super PACs and dark money nonprofits. But the McCutcheon case involves a challenge to limits on how much a person can donate directly to a candidate, which the Court has previously upheld as constitutional.

The biggest concern about McCutcheon is whether the court will re-engineer the formula it uses to assess the constitutionality of campaign contribution limits. This could eventually lead to an end to limits on direct contributions to candidates.

What Citizens United did to the "independent expenditure" side of campaigns -- unleashing out-of-control spending by Super PACs, trade associations, and dark money nonprofits not officially coordinating with a candidate -- McCutcheon could do to the campaign contribution side.

[onehandle]

1. Yes. Thanks, Ralph. nt

[xchrom]

7. Ralph has Magical Powers. Nt

[Kelvin Mace]

2. They will

Because removing all limits on political spending is the only to assure they can buy the government.

[zbdent]

3. Will doing so mean that Unions will be allowed back into "freedom of speech",

instead of being singled out in legislation to block it? If it were a Republican's cash cow, it would be protected, soon, by a constitutional amendment.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

4. I'm sure they will. We live in a fucking banana republic

The plutocrats run everything. They spent over 30 years dismantling unions, over 50 years lowering the very wealthy's tax share, and are now on a fucking full time effort to destroy pensions, destroy social security, and Medicare.

If I am still around by 2050, I sure I will witness cities like LA, Houston, and Miami with sprawling shantytowns filled with a permanent underclass with no hope.

Tuberculosis will become epidemic, armed soldiers and paid mercenaries will rule the roads.

Our country is lost.

[leftyohiolib]

5. scotus is the reason 2 keep a dem pres in office even if you are unhappy with that potus at the time

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Yes they will.

[KoKo]

8. Planned Rally Against Big Money in Politics During SC's Argument of McCutcheon v. FEC

Planned Rally Against Big Money in Politics During SC's Argument of McCutcheon v. FEC (Common Cause)
Hundreds Expected to Rally Against Big Money in Politics During Argument of McCutcheon v. FEC

WASHINGTON - October 3 - On Tuesday, as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in McCutcheon v. FEC, activists and organizations across a wide spectrum of issues will speak out in support of protecting the integrity of our democracy at a rally outside the court. In the McCutcheon case, the Supreme Court will decide whether or not to strike down important caps on how much money an individual can contribute directly to political campaigns.


Common Cause Alert:

Next Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in #McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, a challenge to the $123,000 overall contribution limit that one person may contribute to federal candidates, political parties and political action groups in a single election cycle.

WHAT: Rally against big money in politics and McCutcheon v. FEC
WHERE: The Supreme Court of the United States (1 First St NE, Washington, DC)
WHEN: Tuesday, October 8th at 9:30 am (speakers at 10:00am)

FEATURED SPEAKERS:

* Reverend Dr. William Barber II, Moral Monday leader and chapter leader of North Carolina NAACP
* Congressman John Sarbanes, Maryland – District 3
* Larry Cohen, president, Communications Workers of America
* Phil Radford, executive director, Greenpeace USA
* Marge Baker, rally co-host and xecutive vice president, People For the American Way
* Blair Bowie, rally co-host and democracy advocate, US PIRG
* Liz Kennedy, counsel, DEMOS
* Mary Boyle, vice president of communications, Common Cause
* Josh Silver, director, Represent.Us
* Matthew Segal, president, Our Time
* Steve Cobble, senior political advisor, Free Speech For People
* David Borris, executive committee member, Main Street Alliance
* Brendien Mitchell, Howard University fellow, Young People For
* Craig L. Rice, Maryland state director, Young Elected Officials Network
* Tom Blackton, retired teacher/school principal, Center For Community Change

PARTNERS: Alliance for a Just Society, Center For Community Change, Coffee Party, Communication Workers of America, Common Cause, Corporate Accountability International, Democracy Initiative, DEMOS, Food & Water Watch, Free Speech For People, Greenpeace, Main Street Alliance, MoveOn, Our Time, People For the American Way, Public Campaign, Represent.Us, Sierra Club, US PIRG, Young Elected Officials Network, Young People For Change.
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Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970 by John Gardner as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest.