Federal Appeals Court Voids Campaign Finance Reform Rules

[MsDoodahs]

Federal Appeals Court Voids Campaign Finance Reform Rules

A federal appeals court overturned hard-fought campaign finance reform regulations in a ruling on Friday that will make it easier for independent political groups to raise and spend money to influence elections.

The three-judge panel struck down regulations intended to blunt the power of such organizations, including the controversial Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and MoveOn.org, which drew heavy criticism for spending tens of millions of dollars on aggressive advertisements during the 2004 presidential campaign.

The ruling, if it stands, could provide a boost to Republicans and their allies as they try to win back Congress in 2010 and the White House in 2012. Outside conservative groups could become particularly important in countering the fundraising juggernaut of President Obama, who shattered past records by raising more than $750 million during his 2008 campaign.

Experts suggested that the court's decision could provide a boon to groups tapping into the fervor of anti-Obama activity and "tea party" events. It will certainly allow groups across the political spectrum to raise and spend money without pause, potentially leading to a more acerbic campaign environment.

The groups "are now free to accept unlimited contributions, to spend unlimited funds independently supporting or opposing federal candidates," said Richard L. Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and an election law expert. "One of the things we know about outside groups, as opposed to political parties, is that they run more negative ads. . . . This could lead to a more negative campaign season."

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Read the rest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091801698.html

[Austrian Econ Disciple]

Federal Appeals Court Voids Campaign Finance Reform Rules

A federal appeals court overturned hard-fought campaign finance reform regulations in a ruling on Friday that will make it easier for independent political groups to raise and spend money to influence elections.

The three-judge panel struck down regulations intended to blunt the power of such organizations, including the controversial Swift Boat Veterans for Truth and MoveOn.org, which drew heavy criticism for spending tens of millions of dollars on aggressive advertisements during the 2004 presidential campaign.

The ruling, if it stands, could provide a boost to Republicans and their allies as they try to win back Congress in 2010 and the White House in 2012. Outside conservative groups could become particularly important in countering the fundraising juggernaut of President Obama, who shattered past records by raising more than $750 million during his 2008 campaign.

Experts suggested that the court's decision could provide a boon to groups tapping into the fervor of anti-Obama activity and "tea party" events. It will certainly allow groups across the political spectrum to raise and spend money without pause, potentially leading to a more acerbic campaign environment.

The groups "are now free to accept unlimited contributions, to spend unlimited funds independently supporting or opposing federal candidates," said Richard L. Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles and an election law expert. "One of the things we know about outside groups, as opposed to political parties, is that they run more negative ads. . . . This could lead to a more negative campaign season."

---

Read the rest:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/18/AR2009091801698.html

I'm sick of the mainstream media. The people in the media are on the order worse than the average High Schooler. Who in their right minds think corporations are actually going to fund people who actively run to reduce Government in the market place which increases competition.....the very thing the Corps. fought to get rid of by melding with the Government.

The idiocy of these people knows no bounds! All it is going to do, is to shove more money into the coffers of the Big-Gov elites.....That's fine, it's their right to spend their money where they wish, but there needs to be a private organization that follows these donations more closely and actively educates the public so those of us who abhorr the tyrants, can boycott those businesses which seek to engender favor in their balance, against the free-market in DC. Perhaps C4L or ourselves and various other places can team together to more readily disseminate this information so we can have massive boycotts.

However, if the Corp is international, then it shouldn't be able to contribute.