The GOP's Campaign Finance "Sneak Attack"

Boehner and Co. fast-track a bill to kill the presidential public finance system and privatize election fundraising.

— By Andy Kroll

Mon Jan. 24, 2011 3:00 AM PST

On Wednesday, House Republicans plan to rush to the floor a bill that would eliminate the federal government's presidential financing system—in the process, violating recent pledges by the GOP's leadership of increased transparency and debate in Congress. Not one hearing has been held on the legislation, nor has a single commitee debated its merits. If it passes, it will roll back more than 30 years of law born out of the Watergate scandal, eviscerating one of the few remaining protections stopping corporations from heavily influencing, if not outright buying, American elections, reform experts say.