Constitutional Law

Senate Republicans block campaign-finance bill

By By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON ? Senate Republicans have blocked legislation imposing restrictions on political activity by some special-interest groups.

The vote was 57-41, three short of the 60 the bill needed to advance.

Democratic supporters backed by the White House said the legislation was needed to force shadowy interest groups that run millions of dollars worth of campaign attack ads to disclose their donors.

Republicans countered that the bill violated the First Amendment right of free speech, saying it would have treated some groups differently than others.

The disclosure requirement for ads would have applied to many organizations, but not the National Rifle Association or AARP.

Another test vote on the bill is possible, but it was not immediately known when. A similar bill has passed the House.

Full post as published by First Amendment Center on July 26, 2010 (boomark / email).