News Analysis: Disclose, Rather Than Limit, Campaign Contributions

Regulating and limiting the influence of money in politics just got a whole lot harder with the ruling Friday by the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia that the government cannot limit spending on political campaigns by non-profit groups or political committees (see New York Times story).

The issue is highly relevant to Utah because the Governor's Commission on Strengthening Utah's Democracy has recommended, on a 10-7 vote, that a broad range of restrictions be placed on political contributions.

The court ruling won't directly affect the Commission recommendation, because the plan did not attempt to regulate independent expenditure groups. But the federal court ruling will mean that anyone wanting to get around contribution limits to campaigns can pour unlimited amounts of money into independent campaigns to elect or defeat a candidate.

I serve on the Democracy Commission, and the problem with independent expenditure campaigns is one big reason I voted against the Commission recommendation.