TIP/Campaign finance experts

Jan. 21, 2010

TO: Editors, news directors
FROM: Stacy Forster and Jenny Price, University Communications, 608-262-0930
RE: TIP/CAMPAIGN FINANCE EXPERTS

In a major decision today (Jan. 21), the U.S. Supreme Court peeled away limits on corporate spending in federal campaigns, allowing corporations and labor unions to openly support candidates in presidential and congressional elections.

The following University of Wisconsin–Madison experts can discuss the decision with interested media:

• Ann Althouse, Robert W. & Irma Arthur-Bascom Professor of Law, is available to comment after 2 p.m. and can be reached by e-mail, althouse@wisc.edu. Althouse is an expert on constitutional law and can provide analysis of the court ruling.
• Donald Downs, professor of political science, law and journalism, is available to comment before 12:30 p.m. and after 5 p.m. today at 608-692-6221, as well as Friday, Jan. 22, at 608-263-2295. His e-mail is dadowns@wisc.edu. Downs is a constitutional law expert who can reflect on the free speech and civil liberties issues raised by the case.
• A group of political science professors, who are all experts on campaigns and elections, can discuss its potential impact on campaigns. They include Charles Franklin, 608-235-1960, franklin@polisci.wisc.edu; Ken Goldstein, 608-263-2390, kmgoldstein@wisc.edu; and Barry Burden, 608-263-6351, bcburden@wisc.edu. Goldstein also studies campaign advertising.
• Howard Schweber, associate professor of political science and legal studies, 608-263-2293, schweber@polisci.wisc.edu. Schweber is an expert on constitutional law, judicial politics and the First Amendment and can offer both legal and political analyses of the decision.