Super PACs are not the problem: Opposing view

A super PAC is a group of people pooling their resources to support candidates for political office. They don't contribute to candidates' campaigns, but instead say what they want to say. Super PACs must register with the Federal Election Commission, and report all of their expenditures and contributions over $200. Why is all that considered so bad?

Americans tend to forget, or not know, that until 1975 our elections always featured the equivalent of super PACs. But that year, we decided to vastly increase the government's role as a speech policeman. Not surprisingly, the combined incumbent re-election rate over the three election cycles since the return of super PACs is lower than at any time since 1974.

People hate political spending the same way that children hate spinach, but it turns out to be good to have. Studies show that spending increases voter knowledge and turnout, but it's not cheap. One recent study showed it cost roughly $87 a vote to increase turnout.

Unfortunately, current campaign-finance laws make it difficult for candidates to raise the money necessary to get their message to voters. Super PACs help fill that need. And that, in turn, means that candidates can spend less time fundraising and more time talking to voters.

Before super PACs, if a presidential candidate didn't do well in Iowa and New Hampshire, his campaign typically ended for lack of money. In 2012, however, super PACs kept campaigns of candidates such as Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum alive. They didn't ultimately win, but they did win primaries and millions of votes, and, more important, gave Americans more time to consider and debate the candidates and issues. What's wrong with that?

In the old days, the 2016 GOP primary would have played out like this: Jeb Bush would have just out-fundraised everyone, leaving voters with less choice and less information about the candidates. Why is that good for democracy?

Let's take stock: Since the return of super PACs, turnout, up; competition, up; candidate time spent fundraising, down; personal freedom, up. Our campaigns aren't perfect, but super PACs aren't the problem.

Bradley A. Smith is founder and chairman of the Center for Competitive Politics.