For Immediate Release
November 11, 2002
Contact Information:
Amanda Cooper, 212 998–6736
Opening Briefs Filed in McConnell v. FEC
Congressional Sponsors Fight Efforts of Political Heavyweights to Roll Back Campaign Reform
Statement of Joshua Rosenkranz, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law:
This week, with the filing of the opening briefs in McConnell v. FEC, we have reached another milestone in the struggle to defend the nations efforts to clean up our electoral system.
Earlier this year, the American people won a hard-earned victory for clean elections and open democracy. When strong majorities in the House and Senate voted for the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), and President Bush signed the measure into law, an historic step was taken to lessen the influence of money on politics.
Literally since the moment the bill became law, Washingtons power brokers have been gunning to tear down the reform. These powerful and wealthy political players have the greatest investment in the status quo, and the most to fear from change. Though the American public has rejected business as usual, thats exactly what the politically connected seek.
Thankfully, the Department of Justice, the Federal Election Commission, and the Congressional sponsors of the BCRA have assembled a strong team to defend the law. Defendants briefs, filed in federal court in Washington, D.C. on November 6, lay out powerful arguments that prove that this reform is not only necessary, but carefully constructed and wholly constitutional.
“Our brief is chock full of evidence of the corrupting influence of large donations. The brief also cites extensive polling data showing that the overwhelming majority of the American people believes that large, unregulated donations, ‘distort the workings of government and compromise our elected officials.’
Winning this lawsuit is the next step on the road that returns our system of government to the American people.
If you have questions or would like to arrange an interview, please call Amanda Cooper at (212) 998–6736. More information, including links to briefs, can be found in our Resources section and at www.democracy21.org.