CCP
Are corporate campaign contributions good or bad for shareholders?
By Jason FarrellThe argument that corporate spending on political campaigns is making companies rich has been screamed ad infinitum by the media and pro-regulation groups like Common Cause.
Independent groups
Washington Post: Stirring the constitutional pot
By Ruth MarcusIn the age of eight-figure checks to super PACs, is it time for a constitutional amendment that could end this dangerous farce?
The Hill: Dictatorship of dollars
By Brent BudowskyRepublicans, right-wing billionaires whose extremism is alien to traditional American values, special interests with Gilded Age-magnitude greed and five Supreme Court justices who proved their contempt for 200 years of American jurisprudence in the Citizens United case are within reach of turning a corrupted system into a near-permanent dictatorship of dollars that could destroy the dream of July 4, 1776.
Politico: Citizens United gives free speech a high price
By JESSICA LEVINSONAs election 2012 progresses, there’s continuing hubbub about the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which paved the way for super PACs. Proponents of campaign-finance laws see the ruling as opening the floodgates for unlimited, often undisclosed, money to overwhelm our political system. Opponents view it as a victory of free speech over government regulation.
NY Times: Donations to Democratic ‘Super PAC’ Rise Just as Campaign Steps Up Spending
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR and DEREK WILLISThree $1 million contributions in May sharply increased the fortunes of the Democratic “super PAC” backing President Obama even as his campaign stepped up spending amid concerns expressed by top advisers about being wildly outspent this fall.
Associated Press: Obama and Romney both spending heavily, but GOP super PAC lead is widening
WASHINGTON — The national campaigns backing President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are drawing even in their fundraising prowess, but new financial filings released show that the “super” political committees supporting the GOP candidate and his party are widening the money gap over struggling pro-Democratic party organizations.
SCOTUS/Judiciary
Wall Street Journal: Worst Proposal of the Year?
By DANIELLE CHARETTELiberals are importuning the Supreme Court this week to use a Montana campaign finance case to overturn 2010’s Citizens United decision. That’s unlikely to happen. But any justices tempted to recant on protecting speech ought to ponder a new proposal that would overturn the First Amendment.
Disclosure
NY Times: Disclosure Would Be Great. Then What?
By ANDREW ROSENTHALPresident Obama’s lawyers have sent a letter to the Federal Election Commission complaining that Crossroads GPS, a partisan campaign committee that pretends to be a “social welfare” organization, is really a partisan campaign committee that pretends to be a “social welfare” organization.
Washington Times: Republicans oppose super PAC disclosure
By Luke RosiakFor years, Republicans said when it came to preventing corruption through money in politics, disclosure was the surest antidote to corruption — more so than dollar restrictions on spending, which could drive illicit activity underground.
Tax financing
Politico: Senate: No taxpayer cash for conventions
By MANU RAJUA bipartisan push to eliminate millions of federal dollars earmarked to each party’s conventions was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate on Thursday, handing a win to critics who say taxpayer money shouldn’t be spent on orchestrated presidential nominating coronations at a time of severe budget constraints.
Candidates and parties
USA Today: Obama campaign spends more in May than it raises
By Fredreka Schouten, Gregory Korte and Christopher SchnaarsFighting to keep his job, President Obama spent more money than he raised in May, and ended the month with a $109.7 million in cash reserves — a more than 6-to-1 advantage over his Republican rival Mitt Romney, federal reports filed Wednesday show.
Politico: Mitt Romney winning mega-donor war
By KENNETH P. VOGEL and ABBY PHILLIPMitt Romney surged past President Barack Obama in May fundraising on the shoulders of big donors — an advantage the Republican nominee seems likely to sustain through November.
