SCHIFF: "As someone who ran in the most expensive House race in history, I carry with me a unique perspective on the campaign finance reform issue. I know, from first-hand experience, how much our country needs real campaign finance reform."
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representative Adam Schiff lauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 as an important victory for American democracy. An original co-sponsor of the McCain-Feingold/Shays-Meehan campaign finance reform legislation, Rep. Schiff issued the following statement today:
"As someone who ran in the most expensive House race in history, I carry with me a unique perspective on the campaign finance reform issue. I know, from first-hand experience, how much our country needs real campaign finance reform.
"I became an original co-sponsor of the House version of McCain-Feingold on the very first day I came to Congress. While the law is not perfect, and special interests will continue to seek out loopholes, it was a historic and vital step in overcoming the influence of big money interests in American politics today.
"Campaign finance reform has faced many legal hurdles along the way, but today’s ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the legislation - specifically the ban on soft money - is a great victory and will restore the trust of the American people in the democratic process. I will continue to fight against the influence of special interests in Washington, DC and work to level the political playing field so that all people can have their voices heard."
Schiff was elected to Congress in 2000 following the most expensive race in House history, with both candidates spending more than $10 million combined, and with significant soft money expenditures by interest groups and political parties.
Rep. Adam Schiff organized Freshman for Reform during his first term in Congress to rally new members of Congress to support the House version of the campaign finance reform bill. Freshmen for Reform successfully delivered many of the votes necessary for its passage in 2002.
The Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA) - signed into law in 2002 - was the product of a careful bipartisan Congressional effort to repair the cracks that emerged in the federal campaign finance system since the Supreme Court upheld the principal provisions of the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) in Buckley v Valeo. In Buckley and other cases, the Court repeatedly held that reasonable campaign finance regulations are fundamental to maintaining the integrity of our political system and public confidence in government.
Rep. Schiff and a bi-partisan group of legislators filed an amicus brief in McConnell v. FEC in August 2003 which argued that the BCRA targets areas where the Court has already upheld Congress’s authority: to require the disclosure of the sponsors of campaign communications; to limit contributions; and to restrict the campaign finance activities of business corporations and labor unions. Responding to new campaign practices - particularly soft money and so-called issue advocacy - unanticipated by either Congress or the Court in the 1970s, BCRA closes loopholes and updates regulations precisely in order to assure that disclosure, contribution limitation, and restrictions on corporations and unions continue to be meaningful and effective.
The brief also defended the "Stand By Your Ad" provisions of BCRA, which were based on a bill, authored by Rep. David Price (D-NC), to require candidates to appear in their ads and take responsibility for them. A strong bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress who have supported campaign finance reform legislation - led by Reps. David Price (D-NC) and Michael Castle (R-DE) - co-signed the brief.
Rep. Schiff, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, represents California’s 29th Congressional District, including the communities of Burbank, Alhambra, Altadena, East Pasadena, East San Gabriel, Glendale, Monterey Park, Pasadena, San Gabriel, South Pasadena and Temple City.