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Congressman Paul Tonko today condemned a U.S. Supreme Court decision in the McCutcheon v. FEC case that ruled caps on the total amount of money an individual can contribute to political campaigns and Political Action Committees (PACs) are unconstitutional. Previously, Tonko joined with 84 other Democratic Members of Congress in an amicus brief in support of upholding aggregate campaign finance limits.

“We should be a government of the many, not the money. Today’s flawed decision by the Supreme Court means more money in politics for those that can afford it  and less power to the everyday people. There’s no other way to say it – this sequel to Citizens United is just wrong. I will continue to work with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to pass commonsense legislation that will level the political playing field between billionaires and the middle class,” said Tonko.

Federal law had capped the total amount that an individual could give to all federal candidates during a two-year election cycle at $48,600. It also limited the total amount an individual could give to political committees to $74,600 and set a total cap of $123,200 for contributions in the two-year cycle.

In 2012, only 0.4% of Americans gave $200 or more to a federal candidate. During the 2010 midterm election, that number was 0.26%. Today’s Supreme Court decision further widens the gap between the small fraction of Americans contributing at or near the aggregate limit and the 99.6% of contributors who gave in small amounts.

Congressman Tonko is a cosponsor of H.R. 15, the Government By the People Act, which:

·        provides everyday Americans with a $25 refundable tax credit to help encourage small-dollar contributions to candidates for Congressional office.

·        establishes a voluntary small donor contribution matching fund for donations of $150 or less. Everyday Americans will have their small-dollar contributions matched if they give to Congressional candidates who forego traditional PAC money and voluntarily accept lower contribution limits in order to focus on gaining grassroots support from small-dollar donors.

o   Under this matching program, a $50 contribution would become a $350 contribution – matched at a rate of $6 to $1.

o   Candidates qualify by raising at least 1,000 in-state small donor contributions adding up to at least $50,000.

·        prevents super PACs and dark money interests from drowning out the voice of everyday Americans. In the wake of the Citizens United decision, unlimited outside spending has monopolized the airwaves in the final weeks of elections. Citizen-funded candidates who are able to raise at least $50,000 in additional small-dollar donations within 60 days of the general election would be eligible for additional resources to help break this monopoly.

Congressman Tonko is also a cosponsor of H.J. Res. 34, a proposed Constitutional amendment that would empower Congress to make campaign finance laws.

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