Show Me The Foreign Money

The Citizens United decision that may just buy Republicans control of the Senate (recent polls from West Virginia suggest that trend) as well as the House, thanks to all that corporate cash flowing into GOP coffers, may very well include some money from foreign sources, thus giving multinational companies a say in how American government is run. Although federal election laws bar foreign corporations from giving money to American election campaigns, some money from non-American companies funneled to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce may have been "commingled" with donations for the Chamber to promote its agenda in various campaigns.

Senator Al Franken (D-MN) has asked on the Federal Election Commission to probe these allegations. "I am profoundly concerned," Franken said in a letter to the FEC chairman, "by recent reports that foreign corporations are indirectly spending significant sums to influence American elections through third-party groups."

Franken's concerns are based on a report from the liberal group Think Progress, which found that the Chamber of Commerce promoted fundraising efforts overseas by starting foreign chapters called “AmChams” to solicit money from non-American companies. A spokeswoman for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce insisted that these AmChams "are independent organizations that do not fund political programs in the United States We’re careful to ensure that we comply with all applicable laws. No foreign money is used to fund political activities. All allegations to the contrary are totally and completely false."

I trust the United States Chamber of Commerce. Why? It's not because I don't want to; it's because I have to. See, the Supreme Court's decision on campaign finance from January is the law of the land; it's the final say on the issue unless the nine justices revisit it (don't hold your breath). Congress can pass a law to mitigate it, and such a bill is under consideration, but the Senate Republican caucus has blocked it and my congressman isn't going to be any help. After I wrote Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) urging him to support this bill, he wrote back saying he could not do so in good conscience, as the disclosure sections making corporate campaign financing subject to shareholder review and public disclosure is a violation of "free speech."

In other words, money talks, the people walk, and we're stuck with it. I have to trust the Chamber of Commerce when they say foreign money is not being used to fund campaigns. I have to trust my former fellow West Caldwell, N.J. resident, Justice Samuel Alito, when he says it's not true that the Citizens United ruling opens the floodgates for overseas campaign contributions. Because short of anything else, I have no . . . other . . . choice.

I think I'll bang my head against something now. . . .