The Center for Competitive Politics released the following statement after the rehearing of Citizens United v. FEC today:
“Today, the Supreme Court heard two very different arguments: one, that the First Amendment protects the rights of everyone, including corporate shareholders and union members, to speak in campaigns,” said Center for Competitive Politics Chairman Bradley A. Smith. “The other, that the government can censor certain speakers it disfavors because of an unproven fear independent speech could cause corruption.”
“Twenty-six states allow similar corporate expenditures with no demonstrated instances of corruption due to independent speech,” Smith said. “When the government decides to void the First Amendment guarantee that ‘Congress shall make no law…’ regulating political speech, it bears the burden of proof to show how such freedom is corrupting. On the contrary, speech by corporations and unions enriches public debate and must be allowed to flourish.”
Smith, a former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission, is available for interviews on Citizens United v. FEC Wednesday. To schedule an interview, contact Jeff Patch (see contact information below).
The Center for Competitive Politics (CCP) is a non-profit organization which seeks to protect the First Amendment political rights of speech, assembly, and petition. CCP filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting Citizens United when the case was originally argued and again for the case’s reargument.