McKeon: Supreme Court Decision Limits Election Field to Super Rich

McKEON:  SUPREME COURT DECISION LIMITS ELECTION FIELD TO SUPER RICH

Ruling Would Require Enormous Personal Financial Expenditures to Combat Special Interest 'Issue Ads'

(WEST ORANGE) - Assemblyman John F. McKeon today attacked a ruling handed down from the United States Supreme Court that would effectively prohibit all but the super rich from running for public office.

"Independent wealth should not have to be a prerequisite for running for public office," said McKeon (D-Essex).  "However, the Supreme Court's ruling today says just that."

The court today ruled 5-4 that a Wisconsin special interest group should have been allowed to air issue-specific ads during the last two months of the 2004 election cycle that urged voters to contact their U.S. Senate representatives - one of whom was up for election - and ask them to cease blocking the nomination of a presidential judicial nominee.

McKeon said the ruling weakens political advertising restrictions for corporate and union-funded ads - a key provision of the landmark McCain-Feingold federal campaign finance law - allowing the special interests to bring the full force of their financial weight to bear on the political process in the months leading up to an election.

According to the Assemblyman, the decision would make it nearly impossible for average citizens in New Jersey and across the country to mount an effective political campaign, leaving only mega-wealthy individuals with the ability to combat the advertising might of the special interests to engage in successful runs for public office.

"This ruling lands a devastating blow to the ideals of democratic governance," said McKeon.  "If this decision is allowed to stand, we will see the field of viable candidates for public office wither under the onslaught of special interest advertising."

--30--