US Supreme Court reviews limits on political ads

[babylonsister]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0425/p03s03-usju.html

US Supreme Court reviews limits on political ads

Campaign-finance and free-speech issues are involved, and the case could reveal dynamics at the high court.
By Warren Richey | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor



When the US Supreme Court upheld the McCain-Feingold campaign-finance law in 2003, the decision sharply split the nine-member court.

The crucial swing vote was wielded by then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who sided with the court's liberal wing in a 5-to-4 decision affirming congressional limitations on certain forms of campaign speech and spending.

On Wednesday, the court revisits a key portion of that 2003 ruling – a provision that restricts issue advertisements funded by corporations and labor unions during the run-up to a federal election. But the case arrives before a different lineup of justices.

The case is being closely watched not only for the important campaign-finance and free-speech implications, but also because many court analysts are anxious to see if the same internal dynamic in last week's high-court abortion ruling will play a role in the two consolidated campaign-finance cases now before the court.

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[w4rma]

1. This is important. (nt)

[CK_John]

2. They have been waiting for this case, to throw out all restrictions on

campaign financing. They will go beyond this single issue and may even remove FEC authority to exist.