On March 21, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Cao v Federal Election Commission, 10-776, a case filed by the national Republican Party and by former Congressman Joseph Cao of New Orleans, concerning federal campaign finance law. The party had argued that the part of the McCain-Feingold law that inhibits political party spending on its own nominees, as interpreted by the Federal Election Commission, is too strict. The lower courts had rejected the party’s arguments, mostly on the grounds that the U.S. Supreme Court had already upheld these rules. Many observers had expected the U.S. Supreme Court to hear this case.