Senate takes on campaign reform in light of Citizens United ruling

Almost a week ago, President Obama called on lawmakers to act urgently to remedy the Supreme Court's unfortunate decision in Citizens United, which, he suggested, would "open the floodgates for special interests, including foreign corporations, to spend without limit in our elections." Today, the Senate Rules and Administration Committee became the first of several groups in both chambers to begin the process of answering the President's call.

In impassioned remarks, Committee Chair Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) warned of the decision's potential consequences:

"If this ruling is left unchallenged, if Congress fails to act, our country will be faced with big, moneyed interests spending, or threatening to spend, millions on ads against those who dare to stand up to them. The threat alone is enough to chill debate and distort the political process in ways that hurt the voice and influence of the average citizen.

Stopping those big bonuses by bailed out firms? Forget about it. Pushing back against polluters to protect the health of our children? No more. Regulating dangerous chemicals in drugs and children’s toys? Much less of a chance."

Corporate America's grip on the political process just got tighter. But how, exactly, should Congress respond?

Senators and panelists discussed several potential remedies, including strengthened disclosure requirements, shareholder approval mechanisms, and a ban on money from foreign-owned subsidiaries. Even a constitutional amendment to separate once and for all the rights of humans and corporations is on the table.

Here at You Street, we believe that citizen-funded elections are the only lasting and and constitutional solutions to the pervasive distortion of government by special interests. While incremental reforms will surely help to stem the tide of unlimited spending made legal by Citizens United, we must call on our representatives to make public funding a central part of their response.

We were pleased to hear Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) remind the Committee of just how close we have come to passing public funding in prior administrations - such a bill was passed by both houses in 1990, only to be vetoed by then-President George H.W. Bush. With public confidence in Congress at an all-time low and in the wake of this widely unpopular court ruling, Kerry suggested that we "stop tinkering around the edges of a system that is broken beyond repair," and consider publicly funded elections once again.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) delivered a powerful endorsement of the Fair Elections Now Act, which he and Sen. Arlen Spector (D-PA) introduced last year:

"I think we ought to start drawing a bright line between those who will accept public financing and limited contributions from individuals and those who are ready to go out into this Wild West of corporate politics, special interest politics, big-money politics."

You Street and our coalition partners have been working hard for many years to bring public funding back into the political limelight, and we are excited to work with Senators Schumer, Kerry, Durbin, and others in the coming weeks to make real campaign reform a reality. Let's make the Fair Elections Now Act the centerpiece of election reform in 2010.