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	<title>usDemoCrazy &#187; Firsts Amen</title>
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	<description>Trying to Make Sense of Our Democracy</description>
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		<title>Money Money Everywhere, Who&#8217;s Allowed To Spend?</title>
		<link>http://www.usdemocrazy.net/2010/01/27/money-money-everywhere-whos-allowed-to-spend/</link>
		<comments>http://www.usdemocrazy.net/2010/01/27/money-money-everywhere-whos-allowed-to-spend/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 27 Jan 2010 05:18:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>ChickPea</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Van Hollen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FEC]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Firsts Amen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supreme Court]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[We here at USDemocrazy are constantly surprised by how little actions can have big results (like leaving a whoopee cushion on the boss&#8217;s chair).
Earlier this week we highlighted a controversial Supreme Court ruling that says corporations (or anybody) can spend ALL THE MONEY THEY WANT on political campaigns. (And spend they will!)
What&#8217;s the big deal?
Conservatives are cheering because they claim this is a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_5208" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 370px"><img class="size-full wp-image-5208  " title="money" src="http://www.usdemocrazy.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/money.jpg" alt="flickr.com" width="360" height="360" /><p class="wp-caption-text">flickr.com</p></div>
<p>We here at USDemocrazy are constantly surprised by how little actions can have big results (like leaving a whoopee cushion on the boss&#8217;s chair).</p>
<p>Earlier this week <a href="http://www.usdemocrazy.net/2010/01/25/whatzup-today-133/">we highlighted</a> a controversial Supreme Court ruling that says corporations (or anybody) can spend ALL THE MONEY THEY WANT on political campaigns. (And spend they will!)</p>
<p>What&#8217;s the big deal?</p>
<p>Conservatives are cheering because they claim this is a victory for freedom of expression.</p>
<p>The Left argues that spending money isn&#8217;t free speech, and that individuals have constitutional rights, not corporations.</p>
<p>As is the norm in politics today, this is a very polarizing issue. <a href="http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/01/reformers_court_decision_creates_huge_opening_for.php?ref=fpa">But there is a larger consequence</a>.</p>
<p>With the Court&#8217;s ruling, <strong>foreign</strong> corporations will now be entitled to join the orgy of US political spending.<span id="more-5205"></span></p>
<p>There is very little which defines the nationality of a corporation. As long as a foreign company has US subsidiaries, or is incorporated in the United States they are now eligible to donate.</p>
<p><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/democrats-bar-foreign-money-us-politics/story?id=9658403">In response</a> Congressman Chris Van Hollen is drafting a bill which would close this loop hole.</p>
<blockquote><p>We have been very clear that we think it is totally inappropriate for foreign contributions to be influencing the outcome of American elections.&#8221;</p></blockquote>
<p>FEC regulations prohibit non-US citizens from voting in, or contributing to a domestic campaign. But those rules get a little fuzzy when it comes to multi-national corporations.</p>
<p>Is it right that foreign companies should get to influence our Democracy, or is free speech free speech?</p>
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