Campaign Finance:
Pros and Cons
Why might people argue against the
BCRA?
How might limiting expenditures and
contributions be positive? Negative?
Loopholes/Issues of BCRA
Purpose: outlaw use of soft money (fed. elections)
• 527 committee—unregulated
interest groups focusing on a
specific cause
• Continuous re-writing of FEC
regulations
• Unlimited state-to-state
transfers of money
• Honor system vs. realistic
expectations
• Constitutional violations
• Internet
• 501c committee—taxexempt, non-profit/business
group
Why is there campaign reform,
anyway?
Most contributors give to support parties or candidates
with whom they are already in agreement.
• However, public perception= donors expect illegal
gov’t favors in return (such as specific legislation
being enacted or defeated)— “buying” influence
Some believe campaign finance is political
corruption/bribery.
• Many want the government, rather than private
individuals/organizations, to provide funding for
campaigns
– democratic countries have differing regulations on types of
donations to parties and campaigns
Proposed reforms:
Eliminate soft money completely
•
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•
FAVOR
Define what would this
reform mean?
Tries to avoid limits on
hard money
Decreases overall cost of
campaigning
Less concern about
“buying” influence
More disclosure of fund
usage
•
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•
OPPOSE
Define what NOT having
this reform would mean?
First amendment!
Contrary to Buckley
ruling!
Weakens political parties
Money is only one step
removed from contributor
to decision-maker
Proposed reforms:
Limit independent expenditures
•
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FAVOR
Could be used to avoid
limits on hard money
“Levels the playing field”
Could reduce negative
issue ads
Candidates want to
control their own
campaigns
OPPOSE
• First amendment!
• Contrary to Buckley!
• Might lessen grassroots
participation in
campaigns/support
Proposed reforms:
Raise limits on contributions
•
•
•
•
FAVOR
Limits don’t account for
inflation
Candidates can spend
less time fundraising
Decreases PAC influence
Decreases restrictions on
First Amend. rights
•
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OPPOSE
Allows the rich to have
more influence
Already too much money
in the process already!
Drives up cost of
campaigns
Let’s see what happens when
donations are made…
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/10/
17/us/politics/a-guide-to-politicaldonations.html?hp