Release:

The Brennan Center for Justice presents:

When Purists Prevail:
Campaign Finance and Political Polarization
A Book Talk with Ray La Raja and Brian Schaffner

Thursday, December 17, 2015
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

12:00 p.m. Lunch and Registration
12:30 p.m. Program

Brennan Center for Justice
161 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, NY 10013

Do the campaign finance rules that were enacted to prevent corruption have the unintended consequence of fueling ideological extremists and polarization? Are reform efforts due for a re-evaluation in this new era of super PACs and partisan gridlock?

In their new book, Raymond J. La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner draw on data from 50 states and the U.S. Congress over 20 years to argue that current rules allow wealthy ideological groups and donors to dominate the financing of political campaigns. Would shifting campaign finance to parties ease polarization by reducing the influence of “purist” donors with their rigid policy stances?

Join us for a candid conversation with the authors of this important new book. They will be joined by the authors of a recent Brennan Center paper, Stronger Parties, Stronger Democracy, which presents a contrasting view.