WASHINGTON, June 26 Democracy-21-court
WASHINGTON, June 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by Democracy 21:
We are disappointed with the 5 to 4 Supreme Court decision today that struck down as unconstitutional the so-called "Millionaire's Amendment" to the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (BCRA).
While we are disappointed in the decision, however, it is important to keep in mind that the Supreme Court ruling does not in any way disturb the earlier Court decision in McConnell v. Federal Election Commission that upheld the constitutionality of the soft money ban contained in BCRA.
The "Millionaire's Amendment" is unrelated to the main provisions of BCRA and was not part of the original legislation to ban soft money introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russell Feingold (D-WI) and by Representative Christopher Shays (R-CT) and former Representative Martin Meehan (D-MA).
Instead, the "Millionaire's Amendment" was added to the original legislation by a floor amendment offered by members of Congress other than the original sponsors of BCRA.
Democracy 21 joined with other reform groups in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court in support of the constitutionality of the "Millionaire's Amendment."
CONTACT: Kristen Hagan
202-429-2008
khagan@democracy21.org
SOURCE Democracy 21
