[EL] Check out Study shows who breaks campaign laws - ThePueblo Chieftai...

Wed Aug 10 12:15:27 PDT 2011

For many years people of average means pooled their funds and contributed “small” sums (in the greater scheme of things) to political parties and political committees—PACS. Those parties and PACS pooled the funds and amplified the voices of average citizens. Wisconsin Right to Life and Citizens United had that option too, but they served as  stalking horses for other interests, so they instead demanded the courts recognize a  constitutional right to limitless participation in the political process through their treasury funds, and corporate funds they received.

So, thanks to Mr. Bopp and others, we now have a world in which the big players—the corporations and billionaires-- have the same ability to influence the system that the “citizens of average means” had before—but with far less accountability and disclosure. A victory for the “average citizen”? Seems Alice in Wonderland to me…

Trevor Potter

From: law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu [mailto:law-election-bounces at department-lists.uci.edu] On Behalf Of JBoppjr at aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 2:45 PM
To: rhasen at law.uci.edu
Cc: law-election at uci.edu
Subject: Re: [EL] Check out Study shows who breaks campaign laws - ThePueblo Chieftai...

While I don't know what "reformers" whisper in Rick's ear, "reformers" have been quite open and candid that there is a great big list of people they want to shut up -- foreigners, the Wylie Brothers, all corporations, "outside interests," Citizens United, Wisconsin Right to Life, "special interests," etc etc etc. Most, but not all, of these are people of average means or made up of people of average means. They have never said that that bothers them one whit.  Jim Bopp

In a message dated 8/10/2011 1:26:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, rhasen at law.uci.edu writes:

	Jim,

	Do you really believe reformers' goals are "to drive citizens of average means out of our political system?"  That certainly does not match up with my experience in talking to people who are strongly in favor of regulation.  Usually they express to me concerns about large money corrupting the system, concerns about inequality/lack of a level playing field, or concerns about the high costs of campaigns.  I cannot recall a single conversation over many years of speaking with reform-minded individuals who ever--publicly or privately--expressed a desire to drive citizens of average means out of our political system.

	That's not to say that complex laws cannot have this effect.  I believe they can, and that to the extent that campaign finance laws do so, they need to be changed.  But you suggest a motive for such laws which seems so off from reality that I'm not sure if you are serious.

	Rick

	On 8/10/2011 10:19 AM, JBoppjr at aol.com wrote: 

	Click here: Study shows who breaks campaign laws - The Pueblo Chieftain: Local <http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/study-shows-who-breaks-campaign-laws/article_9cf187fc-c185-11e0-baff-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=story>  

	 “Our office did a study and looked at who pays campaign finance fines, who doesn’t, who violates the law a lot, things like that,” said Secretary of State Scott Gessler. “And the bottom line is this: Volunteers and grass-roots groups are far more likely to run afoul of the law because the law is so complex. Large, big-money groups are able to hire attorneys and accountants and pay very, very few fines.”

	But this is the purpose of campaign finance laws -- to drive citizens of average means out of our political system. Nice to see it is working. The "reformers" will be very pleased, I am sure.  Jim Bopp

	-- 
	Rick Hasen
	Professor of Law and Political Science
	UC Irvine School of Law
	401 E. Peltason Dr., Suite 1000
	Irvine, CA 92697-8000
	949.824.3072 - office
	949.824.0495 - fax
	rhasen at law.uci.edu
	http://law.uci.edu/faculty/page1_r_hasen.html
	http://electionlawblog.org <http://electionlawblog.org/> 

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