Posted on 12/13/2014 10:55:37 AM PST by Theoria
The secret negotiations that led to one of the most significant expansions of campaign contributions in recent years began with what Republican leaders regarded as an urgent problem: How would they pay for their presidential nominating convention in Cleveland in two years?
The talks ended with a bipartisan agreement between Senate Democrats, led by the majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, and House Republicans, led by Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, that would allow wealthy donors to begin giving more than $1 million every election cycle to each party’s national committees.
The agreement drew intense criticism from both liberal Democrats and Tea Party-aligned Republicans when details of the new limits began circulating last week. It is now headed for likely passage as a rider in a $1.1 trillion spending bill loaded with provisions sought by banks, food industry lobbyists and other special interests. It continued to draw fierce attacks as lawmakers prepared to vote on a final spending bill, even as Democratic leaders privately defended the addition as a necessary compromise to forestall more aggressive efforts by Republicans next year to whittle away at other campaign funding restrictions.
“The Reid-Boehner provision to increase by tenfold the limits on contributions to political parties is excessive and also does not belong on this bill,” said Representative Nita M. Lowey of New York, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee.
It was Mr. Boehner’s team that first approached Mr. Reid’s negotiators with a proposal, according to Republicans and Democrats with knowledge of the discussions.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Free the first amendment!! Remove ALL contribution limits for everyone!!
Two Fat Cat Parties and no kibble for the rest of us
It’s good to know the GOP actually stands for something.
The urgent problem was, how to beat the Tea Party.
Don’t believe ANYTHING the New York Times says.
“The urgent problem was, how to beat the Tea Party. “
Permanently.
Free the first amendment!! Remove ALL contribution limits for everyone!!
++++
I agree. But don’t assume this idea has majority support here at good old FR.
Yes, let all American citizens donate as much as they want. All foreigners and organizations should be barred from politics.
boner needs to grow a pair. Wait. What?
I think it’s more about how the Party can pay for erasing conservative candidates in the primaries.
I don’t recall seeing many freepers that have a hardon for so called campaign finance “reform”. I would presume the majority are with Jim on this. The constitutional issue is pretty clear.
This is supposedly to increase donations by individuals and curtail the influence of “outside groups”—the last two words in the story. But then why is the money only allowed to go to the parties, not the candidates? So obvious. They are shameless.
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