Corporations are in business to make money. They spend money when they get something of value for it. Rep. Joseph M. Fischer wants to permit corporations to open unlimited bank accounts in Kentucky elections.
Here is the little change he wants to make to the Kentucky Revised Statues:
No corporation organized or authorized to do business in this state or in another state shall, by itself or by or through an officer, agent, attorney, or employee, subscribe, give, procure or furnish, or afterwards reimburse or compensate in any way any person who has subscribed, given, procured, or furnished, any money, privilege, favor, or other thing of value to any political or quasi-political organization, or any officer or member thereof, to be used by such organization for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or advancing any candidate for public office in this state unless such reimbursement, compensation, money, privilege, favor, or other thing of value is an independent expenditure[in any way whatever].
(The Bold Face is the change, the text in red is the existing law.)
Fischer wants to change the law from absolutely banning corporate influence to saying that a corporation can spend any amount they want as long it is an “independent expenditure”.
What is an independent expenditure?
Here is the little change he wants to make to the Kentucky Revised Statues:
No corporation organized or authorized to do business in this state or in another state shall, by itself or by or through an officer, agent, attorney, or employee, subscribe, give, procure or furnish, or afterwards reimburse or compensate in any way any person who has subscribed, given, procured, or furnished, any money, privilege, favor, or other thing of value to any political or quasi-political organization, or any officer or member thereof, to be used by such organization for the purpose of aiding, assisting, or advancing any candidate for public office in this state unless such reimbursement, compensation, money, privilege, favor, or other thing of value is an independent expenditure[in any way whatever].
(The Bold Face is the change, the text in red is the existing law.)
Fischer wants to change the law from absolutely banning corporate influence to saying that a corporation can spend any amount they want as long it is an “independent expenditure”.
What is an independent expenditure?
In elections in the United States, an independent expenditure is a political campaign communication which expressly advocates the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate that is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, candidate’s authorized committee or a political party.
We know Fischer’s influence can be bought, we just don’t know the amount….yet.
