In a CNN.com article, David Schaefer, professor of political science at the College of the Holy Cross, talks about how Watergate reforms actually hurt the election process. “The post-Watergate restrictions on campaign fundraising inspired savvy political operators to devise more backdoor ways than ever to steer big money to candidates,” Schaefer told the reporter.
He points to the 2002 McCain-Feingold law as an example. “The law set strict limits on contributions to candidates and parties. The result: the rise of ‘independent’ PACs that can receive up to $5,000 from an individual or a national party committee in a calendar year. PACs often make it easier for a candidate's supporters to attack their opponents,” Schaefer says.
This “Holy Cross in the News” item is by Sara Bovat ’14.
