Upstate Congressional Candidate Fights Millionaires’ Amendment in Supreme Court
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- April
- 22
The Supreme Court this morning heard the case filed by Democratic congressional candidate Jack Davis that argues that a campaign-finance law called the “Millionaires’ Amendment” is unconstitutional.
The Buffalo News said the justices asked an array of questions from Davis’ attorneys and U.S. Solicitor General Paul D. Clement, who defended the federal government.
Davis, a Republican turned Democrat, is running a third time for the 26th District seat held by Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, Erie County, who is retiring at year’s end. Davis vows to spend $3 million on the race this year, after spending $2 million in 2006.
The district runs from the Buffalo suburbs to the Rochester suburbs.
Davis has argued that the Millionaires’ Amendments—which lets opponents of millionaire candidates raise more from donors—is unfair.
The case, which may be decided in July, may play a critical role in millionaires’ ability to run for federal office, and Davis’ third bid to win the seat. He faces a primary challenge from Buffalo-area Democrats Jonathan Powers and Alice Kryzan.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 1:04 pm by Joseph Spector.
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Mr. Spector,
Your explanation of the “Millioniares’ amendment” is far too simplistic and misleading. You make it seem as if millionaires are being discriminated against just for being millionaires. However, the amendment applies only to wealthy candidates who have spent at least $350,000 of their own money in a particular race. When that threshold is met, then their opponents are allowed to raise more money by raising the ceiling on campaign contributions. It was meant to level the playing field between candidates who don’t have great wealth behind them and those that do.
Millionaires who lose all of their money know how to become millionaires again and again because they know how to do it. Millionaires have the knowledge, wisdom, and skills to get knocked down financially and get back up to reclaim what it meant for them.
And those who lose millions and become millionaires again, in one way or another, either honestly or dishonestly, use other people’s money to do it, and inevitably leave a horde of taxpayers or gullible bankrupts in their wake.