Source – National advocates for tighter campaign finance laws are expressing cautious optimism that, if elected, Vice President Kamala Harris will make the issue a top priority, even as “dark money” groups spend millions boosting her campaign.
But, winning the White House won’t be enough. To get a shot at enacting even modest campaign finance and disclosure changes, Democrats will also need to sweep control of both chambers in November, according to leaders at watchdog groups that track the influence of money in federal elections.
“Without control of the White House and majorities in both chambers of Congress, many congressional Democrats see campaign finance reform as a major uphill battle,” Michael Beckel, the senior research director at Issue One, a bipartisan political reform nonprofit, said. Until then, he added, “many political operatives are all too happy to fight fire with fire.”
Meanwhile, leaders at other government watchdog groups are taking comfort in remarks from Democratic congressional leaders. In recent weeks, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and House Minority Whip Katherine M. Clark, D-Mass., have told reporters their party plans to make passing a sweeping election integrity and campaign finance bill dubbed the “Freedom to Vote Act” by its supporters one of its first priorities next Congress. Doing so might require changing the Senate’s filibuster floor procedures, however.
“I think we have every indication that getting big secret money out of politics while simultaneously passing pro-voter reforms will continue to be a top priority, should there be a pro-reform trifecta next year,” Aaron Scherb, the senior director of legislative affairs at Common Cause, said.
If enacted, the Freedom to Vote Act — which includes a broad range of election administration and voter registration provisions and is supported by civil rights and government watchdog groups — would mark the biggest step in campaign finance law in two decades.
Among other provisions, the bill would establish new rules intended to ensure political action committees and other outside groups don’t coordinate with candidates’ campaigns. It also would strengthen Federal Election Commission enforcement procedures to investigate potential election laws violations and establish a voluntary, small-donor matching program for House elections.
Those campaign finance provisions are key, said Daniel Weiner, the director of elections and government at Brennan Center for Justice. “I am very confident that if there is an opportunity to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, it will include strong campaign finance reforms in it,” he added.
