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For Immediate Release
December 10, 2003
Contact: Jesse Rutledge, N.C. Center for Voter Education,
(919) 839-1200

U.S. Supreme Court BCRA Decision is 'Momumental,' Says Center

RALEIGH - Along with many of its campaign finance reform allies from across the country, the NC Center for Voter Education lauded the ruling from the US Supreme Court today that upheld as constitutional key provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA), better known as McCain-Feingold.

“The American public can now have confidence that their elected officials are no longer able to exploit a gaping loophole in the campaign finance laws of our nation,” said Robert Morgan, the former US Senator who serves as Chairman Emeritus of the NC Center for Voter Education.

The Court ruled that the government’s ban of unlimited donations to political parties was constitutional. Such donations came to be called "soft money," because they were loosely regulated and unlimited, standing in contrast to the “hard money” caps that were regulated and disclosed. The Court also upheld regulations of political advertising in the weeks before an election.

“This is a monumental decision for those who believe fairness and parity should be the backbone of our democracy and our system of competitive elections,” Morgan continued.

Morgan noted that the major effect of the decision would be to finally close the loophole that had allowed sitting Congressman, Senators and even Presidents to directly solicit large cash infusions from both trade unions and corporations. Direct contributions from the treasuries of unions and corporations have been banned under federal law for years. But political operatives devised a way to evade the law, putting a premium on contributions from special interests or wealthy individuals, drowning out the voice of the average voters and spiraling the cost of political campaigns.

Senator Morgan was realistic, however, about the long-term challenges of money in politics.

“This is a step in the right direction,” he said. “But much work remains to be done, and we will remain vigilant in our pursuit of the best campaign finance system possible, here in North Carolina and across the country.”

In North Carolina, the Center for Voter Education has worked for years to educate the public about the problems associated with “soft money.” Center staff and board members have written letters to the editor to newspapers across North Carolina, placed opinion pieces in the state’s major dailies, documented voter dislike of “soft money” in numerous public opinion surveys, appeared on TV and radio as critics of the “soft money” system, and spoken to civic groups across the state.

The Center also sponsored appearances by both namesakes of the historic legislation at major events in North Carolina. Senator Russ Feingold appeared at UNC-Chapel Hill in January of 2002, and Senator John McCain appeared at Meredith College in October of 2003.

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