Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/13pdf/12-536_e1pf.pdf
Page Number: 86

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

35 

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

contributions  provide  access  to  influence  federal  office­
holders on issue of concern to them.”  Id., at 498. 

Political donor: “ ‘I’ve been involved in political fundraising
long enough to remember when soft money had little value 
to  federal  candidates. . . .  [I]n  recent  election  cycles, 
Members and national committees have asked soft money
donors  to  write  soft  money  checks  to  state  and  national
parties  solely  in  order  to  assist  federal  campaigns.    Most 
soft money donors don’t ask and don’t care why the money 
is  going  to  a  particular  state  party,  a  party  with  which
they  may  have  no  connection.    What  matters  is  that  the 
donor  has  done  what  the  Member  asked.’ ”  Id.,  at  472 
(quoting  Wade  Randlett,  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Dash­
board Technology, Decl. ¶¶6–9). 

Political  donor:  “ ‘As  a  result  of  my  $500,000  soft  money 
donation  to  the  DNC,  I  was  offered  the  chance  to  at- 
tend  events  with  the  President,  including  events  at  the
White House, a number of times.  I was offered special ac­
cess. . . .’ ”    251  F. Supp.  2d,  at  499  (quoting  Arnold  Hiatt 
Decl. ¶9). 

Senator Alan Simpson: “ ‘Too often, Members’ first thought 
is not what is right or wrong or what they believe, but how 
will  it  affect  fundraising.    Who,  after  all,  can  seriously 
contend  that  a  $100,000  donation  does  not  alter  the  way 
one  thinks  about—and  quite  possibly  votes  on—an  issue? 
. . . When you don’t pay the piper that finances your cam­
paigns,  you  will  never  get  any  more  money  from  that 
piper.  Since  money  is  the  mother’s  milk  of  politics,  you
never  want  to  be  in  that  situation.’ ”  251  F. Supp.  2d,  at 
481 (quoting Simpson Decl. ¶10). 

Senator  Alan  Simpson:  “ ‘Large  donors  of  both  hard  and 
soft money receive special treatment.  No matter how busy