Few would be surprised that the last-minute spending deal to keep the federal government running struck last night is chock full of policy riders gift-wrapped for special interests. Yet tucked between these giveaways, from a detention bed mandate that guarantees private prisons a set number of detainees to jail to language undermining the Administration’s climate change efforts, is a disturbing provision that should surprise even the most cynical among us. At a time when most Americans already feel like their voices are not being heard in Washington, this language gives special interests even more say in the democratic process by drastically expanding how much money America’s wealthiest donors can give to political parties. That means one donor could give up to $776,000 a year or over $1.5 million to political party committees, exponentially exceeding previous donation limits. It is downright appalling that congressional negotiators, without any public debate or even fair warning, would sneakily chip away at the McCain-Feingold reforms enacted to limit the influence of special interests in our political parties. Considering that the Supreme Court has already welcomed unprecedented amounts of money into our elections, one would expect Congress to firmly embrace one of the few pillars of campaign finance regulation still standing. Americans overwhelmingly want their leaders to fight efforts to gut laws limiting the influence of big money in politics. They do not want us to be complicit.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Dec 2014 18:30:55 +0000
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