Mike Levin: “The basic issue before us is not free speech, but the cost to democracy of opening the floodgates to big money. Soft…”

“The basic issue before us is not free speech, but the cost to democracy of opening the floodgates to big money. Soft money, unregulated, undisclosed, was originally intended to help parties register and get out the vote. Instead, it is turning political parties into exchangers of money for so-called issue ads. It is swamping the voice of the citizen. It is corroding the legislative process. It has been said that money is the mother's milk of politics. Instead, big money is becoming its poison. Look, Shays-Meehan prohibits soft money except in a circumscribed instance. Only in this case, when it relates to registering and getting out the vote. Only in those cases, returning soft money to its original purpose. I say vote for Shays-Meehan. It is originally what was intended by soft money. It is real reform of the political process.”