Money in Politics 2009: New Horizons for Reform

Lawrence Lessig, Michael Malbin, Sam Waterston and more.

Photos and summaries of the conference in the sidebar =>

New Horizons May 8, 2009
National Press Club
529 14th St., NW
Washington, DC 20045

This is a new moment in campaign finance. Last year, millions of new donors and small donors gave to the presidential candidates. This year, new reform proposals are being introduced that revamp public financing—with matching funds and other encouragement for small contributions. At the same time, the unfolding economic collapse has stoked new awareness of the dangers posed by the current system. What does it all mean?

Our one-day conference, Money in Politics 2009: New Horizons for Reform, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., May 8th, 2009, took the first systematic look at what happened in 2008, and its implications for policy, politics and law in 2009 and beyond. It brought together leading experts on campaign finance, preeminent governmental and campaign officials, and advocates to assess new ideas and map out new directions in campaign finance.

Michael Malbin of the Campaign Finance Institute presented data from the 2008 elections, and Lawrence Lessig gave the keynote, followed by a luncheon discussion featuring Lawrence Lessig, Micah Sifry and Adam Bonin about the Internet and money in politics.

There was an impressive and interesting array of speakers, including Norm Eisen, Sam Waterston, Bob Bauer, Monica Youn, Robert Kaiser, Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Andrew Hoppin, Rick Hasen, Beth Rotman, Fred Wertheimer, Trevor Potter, Allison Hayward, Bruce Ackerman, Nick Nyhart, Richard Briffault, Don Simon and others. The complete agenda is below. Videos and photos posted from the event as they become available.

Agenda

Money in Politics 2009: New Horizons for Reform
May 8, 2009
National Press Club

I. Welcome: Michael Waldman (Brennan Center for Justice), Robert Kaiser (Washington Post), and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) | 8:45 am - 9:15 am

II. Panel One: Is the Small Donor Revolution Hype or Reality? Campaign Finance and Political Engagement | 9:15 am - 10:45 am (VIDEO) (transcript)

Focusing on data from 2008 election cycle, implications for reforms on contribution limits from new research by Professor Stratmann, and public engagement as part of the goals and practice of both campaign finance and governance.

  • Laura MacCleery (Brennan Center for Justice) (moderator)
  • Michael Malbin, Data on Small Donors (Campaign Finance Institute, University at Albany SUNY)
  • Norm Eisen (White House Chief Ethics Adviser)
  • Rev. Lennox Yearwood (Hip Hop Caucus)
  • Dr. Thomas Stratmann (George Mason University)
  • Andrew Hoppin (Chief Information Officer, New York State Senate)

III. Pre-Luncheon Keynote Presentation: Lawrence Lessig (Change Congress) | 11:00 am - 11:25 am (VIDEO) (transcript)

IV. Lunch | 11:25 am - 12:00 pm

V. A conversation on the Internet and Campaign Finance | 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm (transcript)

Lawrence Lessig

Moderator Micah Sifry (Personal Democracy Forum), Lawrence Lessig (Change Congress), and Adam Bonin (Netroots Nation): A legal framework premised on distinctions between print and broadcast media has struggled to keep up with advances in new media. How can we re-imagine the applicability of campaign finance principles in the age of Internet fundraising, social networking, and digital dissemination of information? Does the Internet provide more opportunities for circumvention, or new tools to expose and combat corruption? How can and should we regulate new media forms in light of the impact of money in politics?

VI. Panel Two: Money, Politics, and the Constitution: Is campaign finance reform on a collision course with the Supreme Court? | 1:15 pm - 2:30 pm (VIDEO) (transcript)

Focusing on the explosion of constitutional challenges to campaign finance reform in federal and state courts. Is there tension between the Constitution and the aims and methods of reform?

  • Monica Youn (Brennan Center for Justice) (moderator)
  • Trevor Potter (Campaign Legal Center, Caplin & Drysdale)
  • Allison Hayward (George Mason University School of Law)
  • Don Simon (Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Endreson & Perry LLP; Counsel, Democracy 21)
  • Rick Hasen (Loyola Law School)

VII. Panel Three: Reconfiguring Reform: Innovations in Campaign Finance Reform | 2:45 pm - 4:15 pm (VIDEO)

Focusing on implications of small donors for changes in the structure of public financing systems and the questions that are raised.

  • Peter Overby (National Public Radio) (moderator)
  • Fred Wertheimer (Democracy 21)
  • Nick Nyhart (Public Campaign)
  • Beth Rotman (Director, Connecticut Citizens' Election Program)
  • Richard Briffault (Columbia Law School)
  • Bob Bauer (Perkins Coie LLP)

VIII. Closing Remarks and Send-Off: Bruce Ackerman (Yale Law School) and actor Sam Waterston | 4:15 pm - 4:45 pm (VIDEO)

 

Video from the Conference

Video of the entire conference is available, but it is grouped into five playlists:

Below is the playlist for the first part of the conference; it starts with the welcoming remarks and the first panel.
Click on the video to view, or see more playlists on Brennan Center's YouTube channel.