McCain and Whitehouse Support Campaign Finance Reform, Oppose Citizens United

Rachel Leven at The Hill reports that Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) have filed an amicus brief with the Supreme Court urging the Court to review and overturn its decision in Citizens United.


Leven quotes the Senators' brief as stating:

“We are deeply concerned about the rise of unlimited, anonymous money now flooding our elections."

“This unregulated and unaccountable spending invites corruption into our political process, and undermines our democracy. We urge the Supreme Court to make clear that legislatures can take appropriate actions against corrupting influences in campaigns.”

The brief was filed in the case of American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock, No. 11-1179, and may be accessed here. The brief supports the decision of the Montana Supreme Court which upheld limitations on "independent" campaign expenditures by corporations in virtual defiance of Citizens United. The Senators request the United States Supreme Court not to review the decision of the Montana Supreme Court, and, if it does grant certiorari, it asks that the decision of the state court not be summarily reversed.

See also Dan Rivoli, International Business Times, U.S. Sen. John McCain Trashes Supreme Court's Citizens United Ruling (May 18, 2012).

Wilson Huhn teaches Constitutional Law at The University of Akron School of Law.