House Republican Caucus Chairman Looks To Lift Corporate Spending Ban

A state representative is hoping to lift a Tennessee ban on corporate contributions to political races. That’s as the U.S. Supreme Court has just overturned a ban at the federal level on corporations funding their own ads about political candidates.

Republican Glen Casada of Williamson County says he anticipated the Supreme Court decision. Last week he filed a bill that would delete the current state law barring corporate political spending.

Casada says he wants to level the playing field between corporations and political action committees. Some have argued yesterday’s decision will expand the political influence of special interests, but Casada doesn’t see it as a problem.

“Politics is special interest. People get involved because they want to see a specific law or laws overturned. … It just opens the process up more to everyone.”

Casada is currently talking with potential sponsors for a senate version of the bill. And he’s sponsoring a measure to increase campaign contribution limits by 20 percent.

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Hear the full quote from Casada:

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– UPDATE –

Casada withdrew the measure on 3 February, 2010.