FEC commissioner to speak

Bradley A. Smith, one of six members of the Federal Election Commission, will speak at the Law School Monday, Oct. 29.

His free public appearance is at 5 p.m., 5246 Law School, 975 Bascom Mall.

Smith, a Republican appointee to the commission, was confirmed by the Senate in May 2000. He is a former professor at Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio.

Smith is an advocate of deregulating the way campaigns are financed, making him an opponent of such campaign finance measures as the McCain-Feingold bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis.

“At a time when most public speakers are calling for more campaign finance regulation not less, Smith’s arguments for the deregulation of campaign finance offer a fresh perspective,” says Mike Wittenwyler, a Madison attorney and Law School lecturer who organized Smith’s appearance.

Smith published his first book earlier this year, “Unfree Speech: The Folly of Campaign Finance Reform.” He is also contributes to publications such as the Wall Street Journal and USA Today and makes guest appearances on broadcast news shows.