AG Schneiderman Files Amicus Brief Supporting Campaign Finance Laws

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has announced that as part of a bipartisan group of 22 states and the District of Columbia, he has filed an amicus brief in American Tradition Partnership, Inc. v. Bullock urging the Supreme Court to uphold state campaign finance laws.

The Supreme Court is being asked to reverse a state court’s decision upholding a Montana law which bans all corporate campaign spending.  Those challenging Montana’s law argue that that it violates the First Amendment rights of corporations. The Supreme Court has blocked the Montana law pending its review.

The Schneiderman-led coalition rejects this position, arguing the states have a compelling interest in regulating corporate spending in state and local elections, and that the Court should not automatically invalidate state campaign finance laws without a full hearing.

New York State does not ban corporation political contribution, but limits them to a total of $5,000 per year (Election Law § 14-116).

Critics of the 2010 Citizen’s Union decision, which opened the door to unlimited independent  campaign spending, are hoping that the Supreme Court will use the Montana case as a vehicle to reconsider portions of that case.