August 19, 2005

Challenge to San Diego Campaign Finance Ordinance

"A politically conservative business group is challenging in federal court parts of San Diego's election ordinance that restrict businesses and individuals from pooling funds to independently spend money in the city's elections.

The Lincoln Club of San Diego's complaint seeks to allow groups of businesses and individuals to freely combine their resources in order to independently promote candidates in city elections.

"This suit is about freedom of speech and challenging the city's restrictions that we think are unconstitutional," said Chris Niemeyer, the organization's executive director.

A single individual is allowed to independently spend an unlimited amount of money to support a candidate for election through direct mail, billboards or radio ads, but when individuals pool their resources together, independent expenditures are limited to a rate of $250 per person.

Additionally, a single business is also allowed to spend an unlimited amount independent of a specific candidate's campaign, but is prohibited from pooling with other businesses or persons to fund the same thing."

You read the rest of the article here.

Posted by Randy Riddle at August 19, 2005 08:17 AM