Supreme Court to Hear Campaign Finance Law Case
Mon September 8, 2003 08:58 AM ET
By James Vicini
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court returns to the bench on Monday for a historic, four-hour special session on a campaign finance law designed to restrict the influence of money in politics, a case affecting presidential and congressional elections in 2004 and beyond.
Lawyers for supporters and opponents will argue before the nation's highest court in a showdown over the most sweeping overhaul of the federal campaign finance law in 30 years.
The law, sponsored in the Senate by Arizona Republican John McCain and Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold, was approved by Congress and signed by President Bush in 2002 after seven years of debate. It took effect in November.
Two key provisions, at issue in the arguments, ban unlimited contributions to national political parties and restrict broadcast ads by corporations and unions right before elections. Some other requirements also are being challenged.
Opponents, including Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican Party and state political parties, and the AFL-CIO labor federation, attacked the law for violating free-speech and other constitutional rights. (sn9p/...)
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