Supreme Court rejects 'millionaire's amendment' to campaign finance reform

It rules that allowing federal office-seekers to exceed normal contribution limits when their opponents are wealthy violates the 1st Amendment.

critics said it was a thinly disguised maneuver to protect entrenched incumbents from upstart and well-to-do challengers.

The court said in a 5-4 ruling that the amendment violated the 1st Amendment because it penalized a candidate who robustly exercised his free-speech rights by spending heavily.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. said the amendment required "a candidate to choose between the 1st Amendment right to ... Full Story »

Posted by Beth Wellington
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Subjects: U.S., Politics
Topics: Presidential Election 2008, Money and Politics
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Posted by: Posted by Beth Wellington - Jun 30, 2008 - 1:06 PM PDT
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Harv Roth
4.0
by Harv Roth - Oct. 1, 2008

With plenty of facts and quotes to support the story Richard B. Schmitt goes on to explain the court ruling. He quotes the minority decision and interviews a legal scholar for some incite. The writer goes on to point out Barak Obama might benefited from this law that was struck down. Ironically it was the McCain Feingold Act.

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Fabrice Florin
3.8
by Fabrice Florin - Oct. 1, 2008

Excellent overview of the Supreme Court's recent rejection of the 'millionaire's amendment'. This report is fair, accurate, informative and well-sourced, presenting a variety of viewpoints from people affected by this story. That said, I would have liked to hear reactions from the U.S. Congress, particularly the law's original authors, John McCain and Russ Feingold. Regardless, this is a fine article about an important topic.

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Mike LaBonte
3.5
by Mike LaBonte - Oct. 1, 2008

Reasonable sources, evidence, and context.

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