Constitutional Law

High court turns away challenge to Maine campaign law

By By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON ? The Supreme Court has turned down a request to block key portions of a Maine campaign-finance law that provides matching funds for candidates and a $750 limit on contributions to candidates for governor.

The Court acted Oct. 22 on a challenge from Respect Maine Political Action Committee and a Republican state lawmaker.

Earlier this year, the justices intervened in a similar dispute over matching funds for candidates in Arizona.

Maine Attorney General Janet Mills said she was delighted with the Supreme Court?s action.

Mills said that in addition to Democratic gubernatorial candidate Libby Mitchell, nearly 80% of legislative candidates in Maine ? Republicans, Independents, Greens and Democrats ? run for office under the 10-year-old Clean Election law.

Mills says candidates enjoy the freedom from indebtedness to special interests who otherwise would donate private funds with the intent of influencing the candidate's vote once elected.

Justices Samuel Alito and Antonin Scalia said they would have blocked Maine's provision on giving taxpayer money to some candidates.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on October 24, 2010 (boomark / email).