The rise in monies collected to promote or denounce issues, and the funding of political campaigns, are an increasingly corrupting influence in the creation of public policies that affect the nation as a whole. The early months of this year’s presidential campaign have seen an unparalleled infusion of money into the campaigns as a result of the 2011 Supreme Court decision that overturned the reforms Senators Russ Feingold and John McCain championed in the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform law. This discussion will cover the scope of the problem, its significant impact on current campaigns, and efforts that might be encouraged to rein in the problems of runaway funding.

Recorded Thursday, March 29, 2012 at The University Club of Chicago.