Lawsuit Says New Mexico’s Campaign Finance Law Unconstitutional
Thursday, October 13, 2011 A group of plaintiffs has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of New Mexico’s new campaign finance laws. The lawsuit alleges that the new limits on contributions to political parties and from political parties to their candidates, as well as the new limits on contributions to committees that spend money independently of any candidate, are unconstitutional. Political parties in New Mexico used to be able to accept unlimited contributions from their support …

Federal District Court Rules Wisconsin Campaign Finance Law is Unconstitutional
For the second time in as many years, a federal judge in Wisconsin has ruled that a Wisconsin campaign finance law unconstitutional. On September 14, the court ruled that Charles G. Hatchett, a resident of Whitewater, cannot be made to register with the state and include a disclaimer on post cards and flyers urging his fellow residents to vote against a referendum. Mr. Hatchett filed suit in March, 2010, arguing that these laws violate his First Amendment right to free speech. James Bopp, Jr., a …

Right to Life Groups Renew Challenge to North Carolina Matching Funds
Last Friday, North Carolina Right to Life’s independent expenditures committees filed a federal suit in North Carolina against the state’s matching funding scheme as an unconstitutional infringement on their First Amendment free speech rights. North Carolina’s Public Campaign Finance Fund provides state supreme court candidates with the option to receive public funding if they agree to limit how much money they raise and spend on their campaigns. The Fund’s matching fund scheme also gives …