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March 13, 2017

Chairman Charles Grassley Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein
Senate Judiciary Committee Senate Judiciary Committee

224 Dirksen Senate Of?ce Building 224 Dirksen Senate Of?ce Building
United States Senate United States Senate

Dear Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Feinstein:

We write today to ask you to seek greater clarity regarding Judge Gorsuch?s views on the Constitutional
basis for our nation?s campaign ?nance laws.

The American public is greatly concerned by the increasing role of concentrated money in our politics. In
fact, more than 85% of Americans believe our campaign ?nance system is broken and in need of
fundamental reform.

Unfortunately, in our view, the Supreme Court has for decades embraced a deeply ?awed approach to the
laws governing money in our politics. The result has been a system that empowers the wealthy and well-
connected, while drowning out the voices of everyday Americans. It is no surprise then that more than
90% of voters including 9l% of Trump voters believe it is critical that the new Supreme Court justice
be open to limiting the in?uence of big money in our politics.

As members of Congress, like you, we know all too well how the defects of our current campaign ?nance
law impact our democracy. The pervasive and distorting in?uence of concentrated money in our politics
frustrates the priorities and principles that motivated us to serve in the ?rst place and limits important
voices in our body politic from being heard altogether.

For these reasons, we ask that you implore Judge Gorsuch to provide a public response to the following
questions concerning money in politics and the Constitution:

0 What will be your approach to evaluating common sense limits on big money in our politics and
policy that empowers Americans of all incomes, races and backgrounds to have their voices heard
in our political system?

Is the prevention of bribery so?called quid pro quo exchanges the sole justi?cation for limits
on big money in our politics or do others exists? If so, what are they?

0 Had you been on the Supreme Court at the time the Court ruled on Citizens United would you
have joined the majority or the dissenting opinion? And why?

0 Having never served in elected of?ce, what value, if any, do you place on the opinions and
testimonials of elected of?cials both past and present about the impact of concentrated special
interest money in on our democracy?

We appreciate your attention to these critical questions.

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