Buckley v. Valeo 50th Anniversary

The event marks the 50th anniversary of the US Supreme Court's decision in Buckley v. Valeo, which overturned major federal campaign finance reforms. This ruling, along with the later Citizens United v. FEC case, allowed for unlimited independent spending in elections, leading to a surge in 'dark money' and a perceived decline in democratic influence for the average citizen. The articles highlight how this system enables wealthy donors and corporations to exert significant influence over policy, citing an example where nursing home executives' donations to MAGA Inc. were followed by the repeal of a Biden-era staffing rule. Academics Martin Gilens and Benjamin Page's study further supports the notion that public opinion has little sway compared to the interests of deep-pocketed donors. Former Justice John Paul Stevens advocated for a constitutional amendment to re-establish reasonable spending limits.