Sponsor Rep. Les Gara, an Anchorage Democrat, says the bill stems from a 2010 Supreme Court decision that paved the way for corporations, unions and wealthy Americans to give unlimited amounts of money in support of political campaigns.
The resolution says that court decision "harms the ability of average citizens to have a voice in their own government."
Ketchikan Republican Rep. Kyle Johansen asked Gara if he supports limiting money spent on donors to issue campaigns, like the groups that fund constant commercials either in support of or against Pebble Mine.
Gara says the bill only targets electoral campaigns.
The bill was held pending another hearing.
It's always the evil corporations targeted when we see the anti-Citizens United decision people protest, either in the Senate or in the street. I haven't seen any Senate press releases or any Occupy protest signs yet that have said "Stop the Union Super PACs".
Unfortunately, every time that Congress tries to fix campaign fundraising they screw it up worse than it was. They end up creating more ways to siphon off money for themselves, more ways for special interest money, and more ways to silence regular people.
Gara's bill will do nothing. It's a way to keep his name in the news and walk the Party line. The only way that campaign finance reform will ever be honest again is to fire the professional politicians and go back to citizen legislators. We did some of that in 2010, and need to do more of it in 2012.
Meanwhile---no gas.
Fairbanks Optimist....I watched that hearing on 360 north and unions were included in the bill and in discussion it appears an amendment will be introduced to include any other group.
The best result would be a change of membership on the supreme court that will overturn this facist rule . One of the big reasons to reelect Obama. None of the republicans will appoint justices that would overturn this rule. Short of that this is a good bill and should be supported, realizing the constitutional amendment route is a long process.
It's still one person, one vote. That is the most powerful political tool.
SCOTUS needs to overturn their stupid decision, instead.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2010/0121/Supreme-Court-Campaign-finance-limits-violate-free-speech
This is 6:45 if you wish to watch or listen:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/jan-june10/supremecourt_01-21.html
I am for SuperPACs being made accountable and transparent with their donors like the lesser of special interest groups.
As it is now, under "Citizens United", billionaires have a lot more sway and voice than the entire population of Alaska in national decisions.
And just whose interests do you suppose those billionaires are intending to represent?
Some are all wound up for Wall Street, one in particular is all wound up for israel and dragging us into another war.
This bill is as important as it gets.
Neither should unions.
Hey...wait a minute....I am sure its just an oversight that unions are not included in this bill....