Chu takes on campaign reform at Pasadena panel

Occupy-led meeting slams super PACs, Citizens United ruling

Rep. Judy Chu (D- Monterey Park) speaks during a campaign finance reform discussion in Pasadena on Sept. 15, 2012. (Raul Roa/Staff Photographer / September 17, 2012) By Anthony Carpio September 17, 2012| 2:49 p.m. Rep. Judy Chu (D-Monterey Park) and a panel of election reform advocates on Saturday slammed the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that has changed campaign fundraising and explored ways to reduce the political influence of corporate dollars. Chus comments kicked off an event hosted by Occupy Democracy Pasadena exploring the ramifications of Citizens United v. FEC, the 2010 ruling that tossed out limits on campaign donations. The ruling, which also equated corporations with people for purposes of exercising free speech rights, has led to a spike in so-called soft contributions in the current election campaign.

The decision, Chu said, led the way to corporations determining elections and politicians being sold to the highest bidder. Now big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money, in secret and without accountability, to try and get politicians to answer to them rather than the voters. And boy, do they spend. So-called SuperPACS including the Restore Our Future PAC backing GOP candidate Mitt Romney and Priorities USA backing President Obama have raised and spent tens of milions of dollars to influence voters. Most of that money has supported conservative causes and candidates. During the panel discussion before 80 or more people at the Villa Gardens retirement community in Pasadena, Chu said this is coming at a political cost. What is good for our country, what is good for the people; this is all getting lost in this election, Chu said. Chu argued for a Constitutional amendment, House Joint Reform 90, that would state that corporations are not people. Panelist Allan Ides, a Loyola Law School professor, suggested the better route is a competing measure, House Joint Reolution 110, tailored to block unlimited spending. Thats the one I think is most sellable, Ides said. Its the least sexy because it doesnt attack corporations as people, but what it does do is take money out of politics. It ends the money talk in politics and thats really the problem. Ides said House Joint Reform 90, which would block donations even from non-profit organizatins, is dangerously overbroad. Other panelists included California Clean Money President Trent Lange and Common Cause representative John Smith. Maddie Gavel-Briggs, one of the event organizers, said her group wants to people to belive that it is not enough to dsay government is broken. Ive got news for people, we are the government, Gavel-Briggs said. If its broken, then you have to look at yourself. Copyright 2012, Pasadena Sun