Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/13pdf/12-536_e1pf.pdf
Page Number: 88

Cite as:  572 U. S. ____ (2014) 

37 

BREYER, J., dissenting 
Appendix A to opinion of BREYER, J. 

butions in fact distort the legislative process.  They affect
what  gets  done  and  how  it  gets  done.    They  affect  whom 
Senators and House members see, whom they spend their 
time with, what input they get . . . .’ ”  251 F. Supp. 2d, at 
496 (quoting Rudman Decl. ¶¶7, 9). 

Senator  Paul  Simon:  “ ‘While  I  realize  some  argue  donors 
don’t buy favors, they buy access.  That access is the abuse 
and it affects all of us. . . . You feel a sense of gratitude for 
their  support.  .  .  .  Because  few  people  can  afford  to  give
over $20,000 or $25,000 to a party committee, those people
who can will receive substantially better access to elected 
federal  leaders  than  people  who  can  only  afford  smaller 
contributions or can not afford to make any contributions. 
When you increase the amount that people are allowed to 
give,  or  let  people  give  without  limit  to  the  parties,  you
increase the danger of unfair access.’ ”  251 F. Supp. 2d, at 
496 (quoting Simon Decl. ¶16). 

Senator  John  McCain:  “ ‘At  a  minimum,  large  soft  money 
donations purchase an opportunity for the donors to make 
their case to elected officials . . . in a way average citizens
cannot.’ ”    251  F. Supp.  2d,  at  496  (quoting  McCain 
Decl. ¶6). 

Senator  Warren  Rudman:  “ ‘I  understand  that  those  who 
opposed  passage  of  the  Bipartisan  Campaign  Reform 
Act,  and  those  who  now  challenge  its  constitutionality  in 
Court,  dare  elected  officials  to  point  to  specific  [instances 
of  vote  buying].  I  think  this  misses  the  point  altogether.
[The access and influence accorded large donors] is inher­
ently,  endemically,  and  hopelessly  corrupting.    You  can’t 
swim in the ocean without getting wet; you can’t be part of 
this  system  without  getting  dirty.’ ”  251  F. Supp.  2d,  at 
481 (quoting Rudman Decl. ¶10).