The Illinois Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Act [PDF] was ruled constitutional on Wednesday in a Federal District Court [official website] in Chicago. The law limits how much political action committees (PACs) can contribute to candidates, but permits political parties to contribute as much as they want to campaigns. The law was challenged on First Amendment grounds by PAC supporters who felt the law violated their right to free speech and equal protection. Liberty Justice Center (LJC) [advocacy website], whose lawyers represented the plaintiffs, stated [press release] that, “[t]hough enacted under the guise of fighting corruption in Illinois politics, Illinois’ campaign finance law actually creates structures that enhance the potential for corruption.” Federal Judge Gary Feinerman ruled on the highly controversial issue of legislative caucus committees, and found [SJR report] that the committees are essentially extensions of political parties and, therefore, are not subject to spending restrictions under the law and upheld the constitutionality of the different funding restrictions within the law. LJC said their attorneys would appeal the ruling.

Political corruption through financing activities is a controversial issue in the US. In July the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit refused to dismiss [JURIST report] bribery and fraud charges levied against US Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey. Menendez is believed to have accepted gifts in exchange for political influence. In June a three-judge panel in the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected the appeal [JURIST report] of former Connecticut governor John Rowland’s corruption charges. Rowland had arranged to provide political consulting work in contravention of current campaign finance law, particularly in receiving payments from outside sources. This would not be the first time Rowland served a prison sentence for corruption charges. In 2004 he pleaded guilty to corruption charges and served 10 months of a one-year sentence after he admitted to receiving more than $100,000 in gifts from state contractors.