On July 17, supporters of Arizona’s public funding law for state office asked the State Supreme Court to invalidate a bill passed earlier this year by the Arizona legislature. The case is Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission v Bennett, cv13-0233-SA.
The bill raises campaign contribution limits to candidates for state office. For instance, it raises limits to legislative candidates from $440 to $4,000. Supporters of public funding dislike such high contribution limits, because the higher limits will probably motivate many candidates to ignore the public funding program and instead opt for private funding. The basis for the lawsuit is technical. The lawsuit argues that Arizona initiatives may not be altered by the legislature unless the legislature alters the initiative with a 3/4ths vote in each House. Opponents of the lawsuit will argue that the campaign limits aren’t really a part of the initiative that first established the public funding program back in 1998. Chances seem high that the Supreme Court will hear this case.
No doubt all the vigorous defenders of anonymous, unreported, and unlimited expressions of free “speech” by super wealthy individuals,unions and corporate “persons” will post impassioned objections to both these limits on the free speech of us schlubs with limited financial means. I guess it’s expected we don’t have much to say about our democracy.
So lets hear it, starting with you, Mumbo Jimbo. And I’d lke to hear what you have to say, too, Richard
Clean Elections is a scam. It raises fines for non-violent crimes to fund this disaster that has no impact on candidates or elections. Do away with Clean Elections and the City of Phoenix Food Tax while we’re at it.