American Tradition Partnership (ATP) v. Bullock: Supreme Court Amici Brief of CLC et al in Support of Bullock

Amicus brief filed by the Campaign Legal Center, AARP, Center for Responsive Politics, Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights under Law, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, League of Women Voters of the United States, Michigan Campaign Finance Network, National Institute on Money in State Politics, Progressives United, Sunlight Foundation, U.S. Pirg Education Fund and Wisconsin Democracy Campaign in support of Respondents, Bullock et al. Amici’s argument details how current law accommodates close relationships between candidates and so-called “independent” spenders and how– particularly in the absence of effective disclosure– corporate funds used for so-called “independent” expenditures could lead to corruption and the appearance of corruption; how more than $120 million in anonymous-source funds was spent to influence the 2010 elections, with far greater spending of anonymous funds projected for 2012; that even when campaign finance data is disclosed, the data too often is neither timely enough, nor accessible enough, to enable the electorate to make informed decisions on Election Day. Amici therefore urge the Court to deny certiorari and leave standing Montana’s law.