Colorado Campaign Law to Be Reviewed
Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced yesterday plans to take a dispute over campaign finance laws directly to the state supreme court. The governor is asking the court to determine if state campaign finance laws are unconstitutional in light of the recent 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citizens United. See Mutual Destruction in Judicial Elections Predicted.
The U.S. Supreme Court's January ruling strikes down restrictions that had barred corporations from spending money on campaign ads in the days before an election.
The decision is at odds with Colorado's Amendment 27, which was approved by voters in 2002 and bans such spending. Members of thelegislature are drafting a resolution supporting Ritter's decision to go to the high court. Lawmakers hope for a quick ruling from the state supreme court before the state legislature adjourns on May 12.
If the court finds the law unconstitutional, companies and labor organizations could immediately begin raising money for the November elections. It is hard to magine, but we may be subjected to even more negative campaign ads thi election year.