June, 08 2010, 12:30pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Rick Bielke,Communications Director,(Ph)202.293.0222 | (Fx)202.293.0202,rbielke@publicampaign.org
Decision Has No Impact on Pending Fair Elections Legislation
WASHINGTON
Public Campaign and Common Cause released the following statement
today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court's order today blocking the
release of matching funds to candidates for office in Arizona who have
opted into their Clean Elections program.
"This case
is only about one part of Arizona's successful system-the triggered
matching funds program," said Nick Nyhart, president and CEO of Public
Campaign. "We will continue to argue the merits of the matching fund
system at every challenge, but it must be noted that this Court decision
has no impact on the Fair Elections proposals now advancing in
Congress."
That proposal, the Fair Elections Now Act
(HR 1826, S. 752) "sidesteps the Arizona problem by linking the payment
of matching funds to each candidate's in-state, small-donor fundraising,
not opponent or independent fundraising," said Bob Edgar, president of
Common Cause. "The Fair Elections bill is carefully crafted to pass
constitutional muster even in light of the Roberts Court's u-turn toward
campaign finance deregulation."
"The Court has
decided to disrupt Arizona's elections while it waiting for the
plaintiff's arguments and then determining if they are even worthy of a
hearing," Edgar said.
The Court's order did not note
any dissenting opinion and will remain in effect until the Court rules
or denies a hearing on McComish V. Bennett, AZ Sec. of State.
The Arizona Clean Elections law was implemented in 2000
and has survived several court cases and repeal threats. More than half
of the Arizona legislature and eight of ten statewide officials were
elected under the program. Similar Clean Elections laws have been
enacted across the country and have been upheld by three federal circuit
courts.
Public Campaign is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to sweeping campaign reform that aims to dramatically reduce the role of big special interest money in American politics. Public Campaign is laying the foundation for reform by working with a broad range of organizations, including local community groups, around the country that are fighting for change and national organizations whose members are not fairly represented under the current campaign finance system. Together we are building a network of national and state-based efforts to create a powerful national force for federal and state campaign reform.
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