{"id":314,"date":"2024-02-21T08:30:51","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T08:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/california\/press-releases\/new-report-hope-remains-for-reining-in-big-money-in-california-politics-post-citizens-united\/"},"modified":"2024-02-21T08:30:51","modified_gmt":"2024-02-21T08:30:51","slug":"new-report-hope-remains-for-reining-in-big-money-in-california-politics-post-citizens-united","status":"publish","type":"press","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/california\/press\/new-report-hope-remains-for-reining-in-big-money-in-california-politics-post-citizens-united\/","title":{"rendered":"NEW REPORT: Hope Remains for Reining in Big Money in California Politics Post-Citizens United"},"template":"","class_list":["post-314","press","type-press","status-publish","hentry","press_type-press-release"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"State-level reform can help manage big money\u2019s influence in California elections","featured_image":"","press_type":157,"authors":null,"related_issues":[104,431],"related_work":[131],"location":3},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"

State-level reform can help manage big money\u2019s influence in California elections<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\r\nSacramento <\/b>\u2014 California Common Cause has <\/span>released a new report<\/span><\/a> that shows how states can regulate independent expenditures at the state level even in the wake of <\/span>Citizens United<\/span><\/i>. The report details the existing pockets of campaign finance law that are ripe for reform and can make a measurable difference on the impact big money has on state and local elections.<\/span>\r\n\r\nUnlike campaign contributions, independent expenditures cannot be capped by state or federal regulation, creating an avenue for unlimited spending in our politics. This allows wealthy individuals, corporate interests, and unions to buy access to, and curry favor with, politicians to see their policy preferences enacted.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nToday\u2019s report, authored by UC Berkeley graduate student fellow Andrew Albright for California Common Cause, <\/span>illustrates that the best ways California can fight back against the damaging effects of <\/b>Citizens United<\/i><\/b> within the constraints placed on states by the Supreme Court, including tightening coordination laws to ensure that independent expenditures truly are independent.<\/b>\r\n\r\nCoordination laws govern the relationships between candidates and third-party committees that make independent expenditures in support of those candidates. This report examines the legal doctrine and public policy around coordination laws, in California, other states, and federally. It identifies the best-in-field practices, where California falls short, and proposes how California can improve.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\u201cCitizens United irreparably changed how elections operate, but that doesn\u2019t mean reform is impossible. Our work demonstrates the contrary,\u201d said <\/span>Sean McMorris, California Common Cause\u2019s transparency, ethics, and accountability program manager<\/b>. \u201cWe\u2019re dedicated to pushing the ball forward on campaign finance reform research in California because we know a better future is possible. This report offers a glimpse into what those solutions could look like.\u201d<\/span>\r\n\r\nTo withstand constitutional scrutiny, campaign finance regulations must protect against quid pro quo corruption, the trading of dollars for votes. <\/span>Citizens United<\/span><\/i> states that independent expenditures cannot be a source of quid pro quo corruption as long as the persons or entities spend their dollars independent of, or absent coordination with, the candidates those dollars support. Thus, the only form of regulation likely to withstand scrutiny under <\/span>Citizens United<\/span><\/i> are laws that ensure the independence of outside spenders and eliminate wink-and-nod coordination that has become common. Reformers are therefore best positioned to turn their attention to strengthening coordination laws.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe report found that the most effective coordination laws adhere to the following four principles: (1) they cover all relevant spending, including both \u201cexpress advocacy\u201d and \u201cissue advocacy,\u201d (2) they define coordination broadly, (3) they are free of loopholes, and (4) they are highly enforceable.<\/span>\r\n\r\nIn light of these principles, the report recommends that California can take several steps to tighten its laws, including:<\/b>\r\n