League Invites Public to Focus on Money in Politics

In a rare show of unity, Americans, regardless of their political affiliation, agree that
money has too much influence on elections, the wealthy have more influence on elections, and candidates who win office promote policies that help their donors.
- New York Times, June 2, 2015

If you are among those concerned about money in politics, then plan to attend the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) event on Monday, January 11 at 7 pm in the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library. Following an informational presentation that is free and open to the public, the LWVS will conduct a consensus meeting for members to contribute to a review and update of the League of Women Voters of the United States (LWVUS) position on campaign finance.

Important U.S. Supreme Court decisions in recent years dealing with campaign finance and the First Amendment (e.g., Citizens United 2010, McCutcheon 2014) have dramatically changed the political landscape. According to the LWVUS, "The Court drastically extended its views on free speech to allow unlimited independent spending in candidate elections by corporations and unions and entirely discounted any danger from any undue influence other than quid pro quo ('something for something') corruption."

The result has been to undermine the integrity and effectiveness of the nation's anti-corruption campaign finance laws and open the door to an explosive growth of money in politics. This is why the LWVUS is pursuing "a strategic, multi-dimensional approach at the federal and state levels to overcome or limit" the Court's decision in Citizens United. "League delegates are deeply concerned about the big money that is polluting our elections," said LWVUS president Elisabeth MacNamara. "At the [2014] Convention, we came together and pledged to educate our communities and fight in our legislatures to protect our democracy."

For nearly a century since its founding in 1920, the nonpartisan League has worked to encourage informed and active participation in government. To that end, the LWVUS position has been to support methods of campaign finance that ensure the public's right to know, combat corruption and undue influence, enable candidates to compete more equitably for public office and allow maximum participation in the political process.

Since its position on campaign finance was last amended in 1982 and does not address the First Amendment issues raised by the majority opinions in recent related U.S. Supreme Court cases, the LWVUS is now asking members to consider whether the expression of views through the spending of money to finance election campaign activities should be protected under the First Amendment; and, if so, how should those rights be reconciled with those that the League currently believes should be protected.

We urge all members of the public and of the League to join the LWVS focus on an issue that is at the core of our democracy. For further information, including the list of Consensus Questions for League members to consider, please visit the LWVS website (www.lwvs.org) or contact [email protected].

Contributed by Mary Beth Evans, Money in Politics Committee Chair and Deb Morel, President, League of Women Voters of Scarsdale.