PBO says it's much worse than Citizens United: Supreme Court mulls axing campaign donation limits

[Triana]

Before the U.S. Supreme Court today, Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. vigorously defended the current overall cap on political contributions as a tool that helps prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption.

"Aggregate limits combat corruption," Verrilli told the nine Supreme Court justices, arguing that should party leaders such as the speaker of the House or Senate majority leader solicit seven-figure checks there is an "inherent risk of corruption" and a "risk of indebtedness" to wealthy donors.

The so-called "aggregate" contribution limits are being challenged in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission, named for its lead plaintiff Shaun McCutcheon, a Republican activist from Alabama.

McCutcheon's lawyers today argued that such limits, which are indexed to inflation and periodically raised, restrict his First Amendment rights.

If the court were to axe the current overall contribution limits, Verrilli predicted that "less than 500 people" could "fund the whole shooting match," and then the government would be "run of, by and for those 500 people."

THE REST from the Center for Public Integrity:

http://www.publicintegrity.org/2013/10/08/13511/supreme-court-mulls-axing-campaign-donation-limits

[Rex]

1. Scalia doing Satan's bidding again?

nt.

[Triana]

2. Still. n/t

[Rex]

3. He and Cheney must have pictures of Satan petting a puppy or something.

Blackmailing the Lord of Evil.

[napkinz]

4. yep ...

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Triana.