U.S. District Court Upholds Connecticut Ban on Campaign Contributions from Lobbyists and State Contractors

On December 19, U.S. District Court Judge Stefan Underhill upheld Connecticut campaign finance laws that ban campaign contributions to candidates for state office from lobbyists, state contractors, and their spouses and dependent children. See the 98-page decision here.

This case’s name is Green Party of Connecticut v Garfield. However, that is somewhat misleading, because this ACLU lawsuit challenged many aspects of the Connecticut campaign finance laws in a single lawsuit. The first half of the lawsuit, involving discriminatory rules on which candidates may receive public funding, has nothing to do with the issues in the December 19 ruling.

Connecticut defines “lobbyist” to be someone who makes at least $2,000 per year as a lobbyist. “Contractor” is someone who has a contract with the state amounting to at least $50,000.


Comments

U.S. District Court Upholds Connecticut Ban on Campaign Contributions from Lobbyists and State Contractors — 2 Comments

  1. So the First Amendment is again declared null and void.
    And, again, a disease is not treated because the symptoms are treated instead.
    Lobbyists wouldn’t exist if governments didn’t misuse their power.
    Lobbyists have two jobs: 1) Try to get favors from governments and 2) Protect their clients from governments.
    Someone defined lobbyists as people you hire to protect you from the people you elect.

  2. Individual humans are a bit different than artificial persons – businesses, etc.

    Much too difficult for the party hack MORON courts to understand.

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