By snoadmin
Would anything sound more shady than raising contribution limits for campaigns and politicians?
Well, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case that will challenge the current contribution caps, limiting the amount individuals may give to political campaigns and candidates.
The case was brought forward by Shaun McCutcheon and the Republican National Committee. McCutcheon, a wealthy man, wants to have certain contribution limits expanded so that he and fellow contributors can donate to more candidates and campaigns every two years.
Currently, citizens can only donate a total of $123,200 every two years. That sum breaks down to more definitive limits that cap an individual’s contribution. An individual can donate $2,600 to a candidate or candidate committee per election. A limit of $32,400 can be given to a national party each year, while state, district and local party committee contributions are capped at $10,000. A limit of $5,000 is placed on donating to any other political committee. Overall, this adds up to $48,600 an individual can give to candidates and $74,600 to all PACs and political parties.
Under current law, an individual would be able to donate $2,600 to 18 candidates each. McCutcheon doesn’t mind the $2,600 limit; rather, he’s concerned with how many candidates an individual can support.
While it is unfortunate that McCutcheon and a “few” others cannot donate to every candidate they support, at the same time it would only cause more problems if the contribution limit was raised. McCutcheon has enough money to support as many candidates as he likes. However, the limits keep him and many others to supporting a certain few they must select worthy of their contributions. If you could donate to every candidate on one side of the aisle, it would almost give you too much power.
Most people contribute to campaigns because they want their voices heard. A candidate or party may listen to that voice or interest if they get elected – it is definitely not a guarantee – but it’s understandable for a candidate to listen with wider ears to a major contributor. Money, after all, does grant access to legislators, whether they support your interests or not. The question is, however, does limiting the number of candidates you can support limit your freedom of speech? We don’t believe so.
The current limits allow for contributors to equally donate to, at the most, 18 candidates. That number should be sufficient enough for anyone’s voice.
If the contribution limits were raised, they would only make the voice of the few that can financially support that many candidates louder. It would also weaken the voice of the majority of Americans who swimming in cash.
In doing so, it only makes the political environment more toxic than it already is.
