The Super PAC Horse Race: American People Lose With Unlimited Spending

Super PACs file their latest fundraising numbers today, a day before the Supreme Court may decide to take a case that could rein in the unprecedented spending by these groups and shadowy nonprofits. The Justices meet in private conference Thursday to review a 100-year-old Montana law prohibiting corporate election spending. Montana’s high court upheld the law despite its apparent conflict with the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United.

The Brennan Center for Justice, which filed an amicus brief in the Montana case, released the following statement from Senior Counsel Adam Skaggs on the latest super PAC filing deadline:

“As billionaires continue to pump tens of millions of dollars into super PACs and other groups, the media and political analysts will parse the latest numbers for signs of who is leading the horse race for political dollars. But there is one clear loser this election cycle: the American people. Increasing numbers of citizens believe our government is bought and paid for by special interests and that their votes don’t matter. This Montana case gives the Court a critical opportunity to rein in this unlimited spending by super PACs and secretive nonprofits, which is corrupting our political process.”

The Brennan Center’s amicus brief in the Montana case urged the Supreme Court to uphold the state’s century-old law and use the case to clarify rules governing independent spending. The Center also released a video explaining the case and the history of Citizens United and super PACs. The Court could announce as soon as next week whether it will take the case.

Visit www.appearanceofcorruption.com for more information on outsized spending in this election cycle. See more at our Election 2012 page.

The Center’s experts are available to comment on the Montana case, Citizens United, and super PACs. For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact Erik Opsal at erik.opsal@nyu.edu or 646–292–8356.