Two Cheers for Super PACs: Money in Politics is Still Overregulated
Topics: Law, Politics, U.S.
Public Release Date: September 12, 2012
The product of two court decisions, Citizens United and SpeechNow.org v. FEC, Super PAC spending is on course to make 2012 the most expensive presidential election in history. These supercharged political action committees may spend and receive unlimited amounts of money from individuals, corporations, and unions to advocate for political candidates, as long as they are independent of the candidates' campaigns. How have Super PACs changed the political landscape? Are they good for democracy?
ARGUING YES:
David Keating: President at the Center for Competitive Politics
Jacob Sullum: Senior Editor for Reason Magazine
ARGUING NO:
Trevor Potter: President and General Counsel of the Campaign Legal Center
Jonathan Soros: Senior Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute, Co-founder of Friends of Democracy
MODERATOR-IN-CHIEF:
John Donvan: Emmy award-winning journalist