For Immediate Release:                         January 26, 2010

Contact:                                                  Ryan Hobart    (573) 636-5241 Ext. 125

That was Then, This is Now: Congressman Blunt's DC Doublespeak on Campaign Finance 

Blunt in 1992: Restrict Special Interest Money 2010: Corporate Special Interest Money is Free Speech

Jefferson City, Mo. - Before Congressman Roy Blunt went to Washington, he advocated for strong campaign finance reform and criticized campaigns as “a national disgrace” that featured “rich special interests buying votes and elections.” In fact, in one of his campaign ads, Congressman Blunt said, “… Change. That starts with shaking up the system. Making sure our politicians are not for sale. Restricting special interest money.”

But after Blunt went to Washington, joined the Republican leadership and spent several years cozying up to special interests and lobbyists, he led the Republican effort to kill campaign finance reform.  

Now – after 12 years as a Washington insider – Blunt is “pleased” with the Supreme Court ruling allowing corporations and special interests to unfairly influence elections.   

CONGRESSMAN BLUNT THEN: CRITICIZED “SPECIAL INTERESTS BUYING VOTES AND ELECTIONS” 

Blunt: Elections Have Become a “Disgrace” With Voters “Watching The Political Action Committees And Rich Special Interests Buying Votes And Elections.” While serving as Chairman of the campaign finance law reform group Missourians for Fair Elections, Roy Blunt said campaign finance reform was an urgent priority that the Legislature failed to address at the expense of voters. As reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, “Blunt said: “Elections have become a national disgrace. Taxpayers and potential voters have too often become mere spectators watching the political action committees and rich special interests buying votes and elections.” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/15/93] 

Blunt Chaired “Missourians for Fair Elections,”  Group Dedicated To Reforming Campaign Finance Laws. In 1993, Blunt chaired “Missourians for Fair Elections,” a coalition dedicated to reforming campaign finance laws. The group circulated a proposal for petition signature that featured an outright ban on PAC contributions; $1,000 per election contribution limits for statewide races; $500 per election contribution limits for contests in jurisdictions with 100,000 or more population; $250 per election contribution limits for contests in jurisdictions of less than 100,000 population. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 7/11/93] 

 CONGRESSMAN BLUNT NOW: LED EFFORT TO KILL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM, “PLEASED” WITH SUPREME COURT RULING ALLOWING CORPORATIONS TO UNFAIRLY INFLUENCE ELECTIONS 

Blunt “Led Weeks-Long Battle To Derail The [Campaign Finance Reform] Bill” In 2002. As reported by the Springfield News-Leader, The [campaign finance reform] measure bitterly divided the House. Missouri’s Roy Blunt, chief deputy to Majority Whip Tom DeLay of Texas, led a weeks-long battle to derail the bill. Republicans warned that its passage could mean “Armageddon” for the party.” [Springfield News-Leader, 2/15/02] 

Blunt Successfully Helped Slow Passage Of Campaign Finance Reform in 2002, Rewarded With Promotion Within Republican Leadership. According to the Kansas City Star, “[Rep. Tom DeLay, then majority whip, rewarded Blunt with the chief deputy’s post after he spent many late nights on the House floor trying to slow passage of campaign finance reform. “Tom DeLay told me he had asked Blunt to help with a couple of things, and Blunt came through with flying colors,” said Paul Weyrich, chairman of the Coalition for America, a conservative lobby.” [Kansas City Star, 11/30/02] 

Blunt “Pleased” With Supreme Court Ruling Allowing Corporations to Spend Unlimited Funds To Influence Elections. In January 2010, Blunt praised a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that invalidated as unconstitutional campaign finance provisions limiting corporate political spending in elections. As reported by the St. Louis Post- Dispatch, “A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, said he is ‘pleased the Supreme Court recognizes that the First Amendment and freedom of speech cannot be legislated away, even when disguised as campaign finance reform.’” [St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 1/22/10]

Congressman Blunt is running against State Senator Chuck Purgason and Kansas City auto consultant Mark Memoly in the August 2010 primary for the Republican nomination for US Senate.

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