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Opinion

Congress Must Act in Wake of Court Ruling on Campaign Finance

The more we learn about the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the more ominous it becomes. Of course, the reality of justices reaching out and plucking a broad case from nowhere to overturn decades of practice, law and precedent is itself chilling, setting itself a new precedent for activism. But Justice Anthony Kennedy’s reasoning in Citizens United creates even more potential for chaos and disaster. The idea that corporations are the equivalent of people leads directly to the next step: direct contributions to candidates from corporate coffers, not just unlimited independent expenditures to influence campaigns.

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Rep. Michele Bachmann, who recently suspended her campaign for the presidency, speaks at the 2012 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 9.
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30 Hill Aides to Know

30 Hill Aides to Know

The clear expectation is Congress will get very little done this election year. But what does get accomplished, at least in the high-profile areas, will largely be the handiwork of an elite group of staffers — who combine policy expertise, political acumen and the trust of their lawmaker bosses to drive much of the legislative agenda.

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