Opinion: New York Tmes op ed argues Arizona campaign finance law promotes free speech

In an article in the New York Times, law professor Charles Fried and lawyer Cliff Sloan former publisher of Slate, say that contrary to prevailing opinion, the Supreme Court could well uphold the Arizona public finance law. The law they say does nothing to prevent candidates from spending or speaking as much as they like [...]

Conn. governor vetoes bill to fix campaign-finance law

Gov. M. Jodi Rell followed through Aug. 2 with her promise to veto a bill that attempts to fix Connecticut’s campaign-finance law after a federal appeals court found parts of it unconstitutional. News August 4, 2010 By The Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. —The Republican governor issued her veto on the same the day the measure, [...]

11th Circuit blocks extra funds for Fla. governor hopeful

A federal appeals court’s decision late last week effectively blocked Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum from receiving matching public funds for every dollar beyond $24.9 million spent by his self-financed opponent. News August 2, 2010 By The Associated Press ATLANTA —The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta on July 30 issued a [...]

Judge rules against millionaire candidate running for governor in FL

A Federal judge threw out Rick Scott’s request for an injunction against Florida’s public campaign finance law. -SMD The Miami Herald July 15, 2010 By Mary Ellen Klas TALLAHASSEE — Saying there is a greater public interest in preventing corruption than protecting Rick Scott’s First Amendment rights, a federal judge threw out the insurgent Republican’s [...]

A&A: How much can I spend advertising against a ballot measure?

Q: I want to spend my own funds to buy newspaper ads to oppose a local ballot measure. Am I required to register and make campaign reports ? A: The answer to your question will depend on whether you would be considered a “committee” under applicable campaign finance laws, and therefore would be required to [...]

Federal appeals court rules candidates’ First Amendment rights not significantly harmed by Arizona campaign finance law

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of appeals upheld the constitutionality of an Arizona campaign finance law that gives matching funds to candidates facing opposition relying on private fundraising. Those using private funds sued saying that the law curtailed their rights to political speech by punishing them for spending privately secured campaign contributions. -db Metropolitan News-Enterprise [...]

Supreme Court finds key part of campaign finance law unconstitutional

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the McCain-Feingold finance law violated the free speech rights of corporations to spend as much as they wished to back or oppose political candidates. -DB Courthouse News Service January 21, 2010 WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Supreme Court today killed a central part of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law [...]

Editorial questions doctrine of corporation constitutional rights

A New York Times editorial says that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts seems to believe that U.S. corporations are entitled to legal rights commensurate to those of U.S. citizens. The Times argues that traditionally corporation rights have been limited for various practical reasons and are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. -DB [...]

Supreme Court to hear crucial campaign financing case early this month

The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break to hear rare re-arguments on a case first heard in March that could result in their overturning curbs on corporate spending on political candidates. -DB The New York Times August 30, 2009 By Adam Liptak WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Supreme Court will cut short its summer break [...]

Federal judge dismantles Connecticut campaign finance law

A federal judge ruled Connecticut’s public finance law unconstitutional, saying that it put an unfair burden on minor party candidates in obtaining public financing for their campaigns. -DB Fresno Bee August 28, 2009 By John Christoffersen NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) – A federal judge has ruled that Connecticut’s public campaign finance law, seen by some as [...]