Supreme Court: Non-profits Can't Donate to Campaigns
NewsMax.com Wires
Monday, June 16, 2003
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court ruled 7-2 today a federal law banning direct contributions to federal campaigns by non-profit advocacy corporations was constitutional.
Justice David Souter said for the majority that such direct contributions had been banned since 1907, and current law was constitutionally designed to "prevent corruption and the appearance of corruption."
Justice Clarence Thomas, joined by fellow conservative Justice Antonin Scalia, dissented.
"I continue to believe that campaign finance laws are subject to strict scrutiny," he said. In other words, such laws must overcome high hurdles set by the First Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech.
The ruling reverses a lower court's decision in favor of North Carolina Right to Life Inc.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
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