Litigation

Lawsuit Seeks OK for Corporate Campaign Contributions

By Peter Hardin

A lawsuit challenging Minnesota’s new campaign-spending disclosure law also seeks a court ruling that would allow corporations to contribute directly to political candidates.

“Our clients believe … that the First Amendment gives corporations … the right to contribute to candidates and political parties through their general treasury funds,” said Joe La Rue, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, according to a Minnesota Star Tribune article.

Gavel Grab reported in an earlier post on the concern raised in the lawsuit by lawyer James Bopp and his clients over paperwork required to comply with Minnesota’s new disclosure law. Bopp is a champion of eliminating campaign finance regulation. The Star Tribune article focuses on another aspect of the lawsuit, challenging Minnesota’s ban on corporations giving money directly to campaigns and political parties.

The challenge was brought in U.S. district court by supporters of Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer. Lodging the lawsuit were the Taxpayers League of Minnesota, Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life and Coastal Travel Enterprises.

Election law scholar Richard Hasen told the newspaper the U.S. Supreme Court has been more willing to tolerate limits on political contributions than limits on independent spending. Minnesota law permits corporations to spend independently to support or oppose a candidate’s campaign.

Full post as published by The Gavel on July 09, 2010 (boomark / email).