Fed Judge (GWB appointee) slaps down GOP shill on campaign finance "emergency"

[Bozita]

http://www.mlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/07/judge_calls_campaign_finance_l.html

Judge calls campaign finance lawsuit a 'self-made election emergency,' refuses to have hearing before Aug. 3 election
Published: Saturday, July 24, 2010, 5:07 AM Updated: Saturday, July 24, 2010, 8:27 AM
John Agar | The Grand Rapids Press



GRAND RAPIDS -- A lawsuit that challenges state limits on campaign giving won't be heard before the Aug. 3 primary election.

In a lawsuit filed late last month, Republican strategist Greg McNeilly argued that putting limits on individuals' spending is unconstitutional. He asked the court to hear his case before the primary election.

But U.S. District Judge Janet Neff, in a ruling this week, found "no basis in the facts or the law to accommodate what is essentially (McNeilly's) 'self-made election emergency.'"

Election law has been in place for decades, she noted.

The lawsuit is one of two recently filed against Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land over enforcement of state election laws.

Last week, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce said Land infringed on its First Amendment right to free speech. Land earlier issued a declaratory ruling that said the state Chamber of Commerce can use its own money to back political candidates, but it cannot set up a political action committee to accept outside funding and use it to support or oppose a candidate.

The chamber requested the declaratory ruling after the U.S. Supreme Court said corporations, unions and other groups were allowed to buy unlimited political ads.

The Chamber of Commerce disagreed with Land's interpretation.

-snip-

McNeilly was campaign manager in Dick DeVos' bid for governor, and has served as executive director of the state Republican Party.

-snip-

more...

[Bozita]

1. kick for the late night crowd