January 22, 2010 • 5:30 pm
| The cause of protecting free speech was advanced today as the United States Supreme Court struck down limits on groups engaged in federal campaign activity, affirming the rights of all Americans to, individually or collectively, express themselves.
Specifically, in Citizens United vs. FEC the court struck down provisions in federal law restricting groups (corporations, labor unions, non-profit corporations, etc) from advocating for or against federal candidates through independent expenditures. The court also struck down restrictions on corporate and labor funding of so-called “issue advocacy” advertising during the closing days of any federal campaign.
The court left intact prohibitions on direct corporate and union contributions to federal candidates.
LOCAL CAMPAIGN LAWS IMPACTED. Importantly, the decision should result in the invalidation of local laws prohibiting groups and corporations from contributing to independent expenditure campaigns in local elections. Several California localities have such prohibitions.
NEXT UP: CRP’S CASE AGAINST McCAIN-FEINGOLD. The CRP is a co-plaintiff with the Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of San Diego County in ongoing litigation aimed at overturning other anti-speech portions of federal campaign law. To this end, today’s decision is good news, and may be a signal to the three judge panel in the RNC/CRP/RPSD v. Federal Election Commission lawsuit pending in the District of Columbia federal court.
Our case raises the question of whether federal law may constitutionally prohibit corporate contributions to be used by CRP and local committees for a variety of activities, such as voter registration, that primarily benefit state and local campaigns.
In Emily’s List v. FEC, a recent decision of the District of Columbia Circuit Court, the court held that PACs could use 100% non-federal money for a variety of activities such as voter registration and get out the vote. We were encouraged by that decision.
We look forward to a speedy resolution of our case that should be prompted by today’s Supreme Court ruling.
The California Republican Party will continue to forcefully advocate for its first amendment rights of speech and association, and the rights of our members and all Americans to participate in our political process.
Capitol Alert: Supreme Court Decision Could Affect Boxer Race
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Filed under: News , 2012 Presidential Election, California, California GOP, California Law, California Republican Party, California Republican Party Chairman Ron Nehring, Federal Campain Finance Law, Federal Election Committee, GOP, McCain-Feingold, Michael Steele, Republican, Republican Party, Republican Party of Riverside County, Republican Party of San Bernardino County, Riverside, Riverside County, Riverside GOP, Sacramento, State of California, Supreme Court of the United States, Wahington D.C.
