E-mail
PrintSeveral MU professors will be part of a panel in a discussion Wednesday about the effects of a U.S. Supreme Court decision in January that prevents the government from limiting campaign spending by corporations, nonprofits and advocacy groups.
The event, sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Columbia- Boone County, is called "If you Prick Them, Do They Bleed? Corporations as Persons." It will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the commission chambers of the Roger B. Wilson Boone County Government Center, 801 E. Walnut St. Refreshments will precede the event at 6:30 p.m.
According to the majority opinion in the high court's 5-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, money is a form of protected speech.
According to the Missourian report about the event released Monday, some people think the decision, which weakens the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act — known as the McCain-Feingold Bill — passed in 2002 and sponsored by Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Russ Feingold, D-Wis., will change elections and the campaign process.
“The Supreme Court’s decision overturned years of precedents," said Linda Kaiser, president of the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County. "Huge amounts of money can now alter the process of elections, and we are concerned that it will have a negative impact on democracy.”
Will you attend the Wednesday forum on campaign spending?
Show Me the Errors 
Comments
("If you Prick Them, Do They Bleed? Corporations as Persons.")
Shakespeare's Shylock had to stand up for himself as he was vilified in Merchant of Venice.
The term "Incorprated" allow businesses to protect themselves a bit differently than individuals.
It's interesting to read that this "arm" of the Obama administration lumps Corporate America into the "evil" money lenders category. The League could have called this meeting, "Corporate Sharia Rule Awaits America," or in these times would that have been viewed as more politically incorrect?
I hope Corporate America takes a stand against this kind of demonization.
I'd attend, but I believe their "hopey changy" minds have already been made up.
One has to wonder why Democrats decided to exempt unions from the DISCLOSE Act that was recently considered by Congress. Seems that Democrats seem some well-funded speech is better than other well-funded speech...
@John:
Seems like the Dems believe that some entities are more deserving and serving than others.
BTW, is the League registered as a nonprofit organization or an advocacy group? What's ACORN?