[EL] Freedom Caucus to Battle McConnell on Campaign Finance

[Ray La Raja]

This is a case where instrumental reasons might trump principle for the Freedom Caucus, although the article makes clear that some would like deregulation for their PACs if restrictions on parties are loosened.   Hopefully we can discuss your concerns about my argument if we cross paths in Massachusetts during your book tour.


> On Dec 2, 2015, at 10:57 AM, Rick Hasen <rhasen at law.uci.edu> wrote:
> 
> I'm surprised because of the ideological valence of the issue. That is, I expect members of the "Freedom Caucus" to support full deregulation of the campaign finance process.
> 
> (I'm also skeptical of some of the arguments about polarization and campaign finance you make in your book, but that is an issue for another time.)
> 
> 
> On 12/2/15 7:54 AM, Ray La Raja wrote:
>> Rick, regarding the news that they Freedom Caucus is opposed to McConnell’s bid to loosen party financing, why are you surprised (as you note at your blog)?   Channeling more money through the parties should diminish the clout of partisan factions at the extremes because it strengthens the hand of party leadership.  This is exactly the point Brian Schaffner and I make in our recent book, "Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail” https://www.press.umich.edu/4882255/campaign_finance_and_political_polarization <https://www.press.umich.edu/4882255/campaign_finance_and_political_polarization>
>> 
>> Ray La Raja, Associate Professor
>> Department of Political Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
>> http://polsci.umass.edu/profiles/la-raja_ray/home <http://polsci.umass.edu/profiles/la-raja_ray/home>
>> 
>> 
>> 
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> -- 
> Rick Hasen
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