Harvard Professor Larry Lessig Aims to End Super PACs Via Maine Ballot Measure

Harvard Law School professor Larry Lessig is spearheading an effort to dismantle Super PACs, potentially marking the beginning of their end. The initiative, championed by Lessig, centers on a Maine ballot measure designed to challenge the landmark Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. This legal battle is set to proceed with oral arguments before an appeals panel on Wednesday. Should this appeal be successful, the case could advance to the Supreme Court, potentially leading to a significant shift in campaign finance law. Lessig, a former presidential candidate, has long been an advocate for campaign finance reform and sees this measure as a crucial step toward that goal. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for political spending in the United States. The current legal framework, established by Citizens United, allows for unlimited independent expenditures by corporations and unions, a practice that Super PACs have heavily utilized. This legal challenge represents a direct attempt to overturn or significantly alter that precedent. The process involves a multi-stage legal review, beginning with the appeals panel and potentially culminating at the nation's highest court.