Citing the state’s campaign laws, judge benches attack ads on governor

A Kentucky judge granted a restraining order to halt attack ads on the governor financed by Restoring America after the organization failed to identify its donors under the state’s campaign finance laws. The judge cited the public right for transparency, but legal experts said they expect to see the ruling overturned on free speech grounds. [...]

Supreme Court to decide on free speech challenge of Arizona election-finance law

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal brought by  opponents of  Arizona’s campaign finance law that they say violates the First Amendment. -db Reuters November 29 2010 By James Vicini WASHINGTON, D.C. (Reuters) – The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will decide another campaign finance law, taking up a challenge to Arizona’s [...]

Free speech: Federal appeals court rules finance law too onerous for small groups supporting ballot initiatives

A federal appeals court in Denver ruled that campaign finance reports were too burdensome for small groups raising small amounts of money to contest ballot measures. -db Tri-City Herald November 9, 2010 By P. Solomon Banda DENVER – A federal appellate court ruled Tuesday that requiring small groups who promote ballot initiatives to file campaign [...]

Supreme Court denies emergency injunction on Maine campaign-finance laws

Two Supreme Court justices refused to enjoin Maine’s campaign laws before the Nov. 2 election The laws set disclosure requirements, capped individual contributions to governor candidates to $750 and provided matching funds for some candidates. -db Courthouse News Service October 25, 2010 By Annie Youderian (CN) – The Supreme Court late Friday refused to block [...]

Free speech: Anti-gay marriage group wants freedom from reporting requirements

The National Organization for Marriage is bringing suit in federal court in Florida claiming that the state’s campaign laws that require record-keeping and reporting are burdensome and discourage them from running media ads in support of their anti-gay marriage position -db Courthouse News Service September 27, 2010 By Dan McCue GAINESVILLE, Fla. (CN) – The [...]

Nonprofit vies for right to fund political ads without limits

A federal appeals court will take up the suit of SpeechNow.org v. Federal Election Commission. The nonprofit SpeechNow.org is suing for the right to advocate for free speech and against free speech restriction in campaign reforms without having to set up a separate political action committee. -DB Institute for Justice Press Release January 26, 2010 [...]

Washington: Federal judge rejects plea by anti-gay marriage PAC to suspend campaign finance laws

Seatlle Post Intelligencer October 27, 2009 By Chris Grygiel Family PAC said the campaign finance laws were hampering their ability to collect contributions before the November 3 election on Referendum 71 extending domestic partnership rights for gay couples. The law limits donations to small contributions in the last weeks before the election which according to [...]