N.Y. Campaign Donation Cap Barred, Win for Lhota Backers
Source: Bloomberg
By Bob Van Voris and Henry Goldman - Oct 24, 2013
An independent political action committee backing Republican Joe Lhota for New York City mayor isnt subject to a state law that bars individuals from giving it more than $150,000 in a year, a federal appeals court ruled.
The U.S. Court of Appeals in New York today reversed a lower-court judges decision and gave a potential boost to Lhota, who is trailing Democrat Bill de Blasio in the polls less than two weeks before the Nov. 5 election.
The appeals panel applied the U.S. Supreme Courts 2010 Citizens United decision, preliminarily blocking enforcement of the cap against New York Progress and Protection PAC. Alabama businessman Shaun McCutcheon had told the court he wanted to contribute $200,000 to the group in support of Lhota.
Every sum that a donor is forbidden to contribute to NYPPP because of this statute reduces constitutionally protected speech, the three-judge panel said.
Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-24/new-york-election-law-blocked-by-u-s-appeals-court.html
DallasNE
(7,403 posts)What possible constitutional issue can someone from Alabama have in a local election in New York State. What dog does this person have in this hunt? Is he paying city taxes in New York City? Sadly, this is probably proper application of the Citizens United ruling. Nothing spells corruption like Citizens United.
Snotcicles
(9,089 posts)askeptic
(478 posts)I'm all for zealously protecting the rights of citizens under the Constitution, so it sure would be nice if I saw a consistent protection of the 1st (and 4th and 5th, etc.) when it comes to those without money who manage to get press coverage (and public sympathy). The hypocrisy reeks...
KamaAina
(78,249 posts)P.S. It's gonna take a hell of a lot more than that.