Justices shift campaign-finance rules (Fitzgerald | Philly Inquirer)

[struggle4progress]

By Thomas Fitzgerald
Inquirer Staff Writer

... "There definitely will be a ripple effect in terms of state and local laws," said Michael Toner, former chairman of the Federal Election Commission and a partner at the Bryan Cave law firm in Washington. "I think they are no longer valid after this ruling."

Toner, a Republican, said he supported campaign-finance restrictions. He said he was struck by the breadth of the "very libertarian" decision. "They're really deregulating the system, saying, 'Have at it,' " Toner said.

The court also held that independent corporate expenditures have no corrupting influence, because no money is given to the candidates. Legislatures have long used the appearance of corruption as a justification for restrictions on campaign cash.

"It's the Super Bowl of bad decisions," said Common Cause president Bob Edgar, a former Democratic congressman from Delaware County ...

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