Levin Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Uphold Soft Money Ban

WASHINGTON – Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., said the following today regarding the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the "soft money" ban included in the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act:

Today's decision is a sweeping victory for campaign finance reform and the American people. In upholding BCRA's bans on soft money and sham issue ads, the Supreme Court has taken the unseemly race for big bucks out of the campaign system and preserved the American public's right to truth in advertising. By allowing wealthy individuals, unions and corporations to make unlimited contributions to political parties and buy access to people in power, the soft money loophole in particular has contributed to a loss of public trust in both the election process and government itself. The Court's decision provides real hope for restoring that trust.

I believe BCRA is one of the most important and fundamental reforms in the operation of our government since I came to the Senate, and I am proud to have been be a cosponsor of the Senate bill.