John Samples (Author at The Cato Institute)

John Samples on Free Political Speech in 2009. (Weekly Video)

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Cato Institute's John Samples discusses what is in store for free political speech in 2009, given the election of Barack Obama to the presidency and larger Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

The Obama Agenda: Free Political Speech (Daily Podcast)

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

A State-Based Presidential Selection (Daily Podcast)

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

A Critique of the National Popular Vote (Policy Analysis)

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The National Popular Vote plan (NPV), introduced in more than 40 states, and adopted by 4, proposes an interstate compact to bring about direct election of the president of the United States. The proposal eliminates states as electoral districts in presidential elections by creating a national...

The Politics of Bailouts (Daily Podcast)

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Cato Scholar Comments on Congress's Legislative Record (Scholar Comments)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EDT

It's no surprise that Congress is passing lots of resolutions. Such praise and admonitions offers benefits to some constituents and cost little to everyone else, apart from the cost of having Congress in session, a cost taxpayers are struck with in any case. Beyond that, we should be wary of measuring Congress' performance by legislation. By that standard, the most successful Congress would be the 89th which served from 1965 to 1967 and passed over 200 laws that expanded the federal government well beyond its Constitutional constraints. Congress is not the solution to most problems in the society, and we should stop expecting legislation about every complaint. A 'do-nothing' Congress might well be a tonic for what ails the nation.

Millionaire's Amendment Struck Down (Daily Podcast)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Let Millionaires Spend (Commentary)

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Democratic candidate for a House seat in New York's 26th congressional district in 2004 and 2006, Jack Davis, finally got what he was asking for when the Supreme Court struck down the Millionaire's Amendment yesterday by a 5-4 ruling in Davis v. Federal Election Commission. The amendment woul...

Cato Scholar Comments on Davis v. FEC Supreme Court Decision (Scholar Comments)

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

The Supreme Court's decision today in the case of Davis v. FEC continued a trend of striking down or weakening parts of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (BCRA). That law included a 'Millionaire's Amendment' which raised contribution limits for the opponents of self-funding candidates who spent more than $350,000 on their campaign. This loosening of restrictions on campaign spending applied only to the opponent and not to the self-funding candidate. Justice Alito, on behalf of a five-justice majority, rejected justifications for the discriminatory treatment. Instead, he concluded the law burdened the campaign expenditures of the self-funder, thereby impinging on their First Amendment rights. Justice Alito robustly affirmed the Constitution's hostility to government efforts to equalize campaign expenditures. He also stoutly rejected Justice Steven's dissenting view that Congress should be allowed to limit spending on campaigns to "improve" the quality of public debates. Both arguments, Alito insisted, would give new and dangerous powers to the government, powers it lacks under the Constitution. Like the recent decision in Wisconsin Right to Life, the Davis opinion shows the Court has regained its will to resist congressional efforts to harass individuals exercising their First Amendment rights. Since both presidential candidates support additional restrictions on political speech, Davis suggests the next administration and Congress may come into conflict with a Supreme Court majority determined to protect First Amendment rights.

So Long, 'Campaign Reform' (Commentary)

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Barack Obama's decision to abandon public financing for his presidential run may finally mark the program's doom. It should. Reformers have long equated public financing with cleaning up elections. But "reformer-in-chief" Obama has realized public financing would reduce his cash advantage over Jo...

Obama Checks 'No' on Public Financing (Daily Podcast)

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Can Obama Win the Reagan Democrats? Can McCain? (Daily Podcast)

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

What Sort of Country? (Commentary)

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

This presidential election has already produced its fair share of predictable foolishness and sheer demagoguery. The candidates have promised to heal the sick, fix the economy, and create wealth without risk, even if they don't quite understand economics. Amid all this noise, suddenly we hear a s...

No, You Can't (Commentary)

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 EDT

Much has been made about Barack Obama's difficulties attracting the votes of conservative Democrats. Some say his problems go back to his race. Others cite his comments about guns and religion. Still others say his social liberalism turns off conservatives in both parties. Obama, and liberal Democra...