Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Campaign Finance Restrictions

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge on Dec. 9 to a federal law restricting political parties from coordinating spending with candidates. The case pits those who say the First Amendment vigorously protects political speech against those who say the restrictions are needed to prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption in the political process. Limits on spending that is coordinated between party committees and candidates were created on the theory that not having such limits encourages corruption and allows wealthy donors to have outsized influence. Congress enacted the Federal Election Campaign Act in 1972 to limit spending and fundraising in campaigns for federal political office, amending it in 1974 to include limits on how much political party committees may accept and spend to influence a federal election....