New Mexico Mercury

In his heyday nearly a century ago, Will Rogers made Americans smile with an observation that our country “has the best politicians money can buy.”

This week, on the fifth anniversary of what might be characterized as the Supreme Court’s initiative to help us buy better ones, it’s fair to say the justices have increased the cost of our politicians without improving the quality.

Since January 2010, when the court ruled 5-4 in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that corporations, trade associations, labor unions, and other groups have a constitutional right to spend whatever they like to influence elections, well-heeled donors have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in political candidates and elected officials.

Nationally, the Presidential and congressional campaigns of 2012 cost a combined total of more than $6 billion, roughly double the price tag for similar contests in 2000.

Here in New Mexico, the successful Governor candidate spent about $8.5 million to win what was essentially a non-competitive race, and several House candidates in swing districts spent almost $200,000 each for seats that used to cost $15,000.  And that’s not counting the independent expenditures.  

Preliminary reports from the Center for Responsive Politics peg the amount of “dark money” spent in contests nationwide in 2014 at $216 million—all without the pesky necessity of disclosing who the donors to these non-profit PACs were.  

The millions poured into politics courtesy of the Court’s majority have transformed our political campaigns into fundraising contests. Today’s candidates typically devote more time and energy to cozying up to big dollar donors than to addressing the challenges facing our nation, states and communities and indeed our planet.

In Washington, it’s gotten us is the least productive Congress in memory and a poisonous political atmosphere that makes it near impossible to even imagine progress to bolster our economy, make our communities safer, or combat the effects of climate change. The cash infusion has been just as damaging here in New Mexico as we struggle with a stagnant economy, underperforming schools and an ailing child welfare system.

The justices insist that money equates to free speech and political spending is protected by the First Amendment. But Citizens United has simply produced more paid speech – television commercials, internet ads, mass mailings, billboards, faux documentaries – all opportunities for the wealthy and well-connected to convert their cash into political power. The decision gave that handful of Americans a license to grab their bullhorns and shout down the rest of us.

We can do better, and millions of us are trying. Last year, more than five million people have signed petitions demanding a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United and again give Congress and our state legislatures the ability to put sensible limits on political spending. Voters or legislators in 16 states and about 500 localities, with a total population of more than 120 million, also have called for an amendment; one of several draft amendments introduced in Congress got 54 votes – a clear majority – last September in the U.S. Senate.

The amendment would simply restore laws in place before Citizens United; it expressly protects freedom of the press and bars any attempt to restrict the content of one’s speech. The reasonable spending limits it would permit would make it possible to ensure that everyone has a chance to be heard but no one is able to drown out other speakers.

To mark this anniversary of Citizens United, concerned Americans have planned hundreds of rallies, marches, teach-ins and other activities across the country. In Albuquerque, on Saturday, January 24, the following activities will take place to highlight the decision and show what can still be done for our democracy:

4 PM – Rally at Central and Girard and then walk to the NM School of Music, 310 Washington St SE

5:30 – Refreshments and music by Jim Terr

6 PM – Watch the movie “Pay 2 Play”

7 PM – Panel discussion about Citizens United

(Image by DonkeyHotey / CC)