Rep. Eshoo Blasts Supreme Court Decision

"It Undermines the 'Will of the People'"

Washington, D.C.-Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) released the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to reject corporate spending limits in electoral campaigns:

"It is an unfortunate truism that candidates who raise the most money win elections. By allowing corporations unlimited access to their wallets, the Supreme Court today has undermined the principle of the "will of the people" in favor of the "will of the corporation." Corporations do not vote for candidates...people do. We need to limit, not expand, the perceived and real influence of corporate money in politics and the distrust that perception breeds. Throughout my political career I've worked to stem this influence and I'm deeply saddened by today's ruling.

It was a hard fought struggle to enact the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform. The Supreme Court has upheld this law for years. With this decision, the Supreme Court has thumbed its nose at precedent, at the Congress, and most importantly the will of the people. This is an enormous step in the wrong direction."

Rep. Eshoo has consistently supported measures to limit the effects of corporate money on campaigns. She is a cosponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act and the "Let the People Decide" Clean Campaign Act. Previously, she has cosponsored the Independent Commission on Campaign Finance Reform Act, the American Political Reform Act, and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (commonly known as McCain-Feingold).

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