Ding Dong the Unconstitutional Law is Dead

Campaign Finance Reform Down in Flames

Two stories of the McCain-Feingold law being struck down. The first is from FoxNews.com, the second from WashingtonPost.com.

FoxNews.com: Federal Court Strikes Down 'Soft Money' Ban

Campaign finance reform opponent Sen. Mitch McConnell scored a victory Friday when a federal court struck down key parts of legislation enacted last year banning the use of corporate and union money by political parties.

The court's decision undoes much of the "soft money" ban that went into effect the day after the November 2002 election and casts doubt on the future of the campaign finance law designed to limit the use of large donations in federal elections. McConnell, R-Ky., and a large group of plaintiffs, said the law was an unconstitutional restriction on free speech rights.

WashingtonPost.com: Parts of Campaign Finance Law Struck Down

A three-judge panel in Washington struck down several major provisions of the new campaign finance law this afternoon in a much-awaited ruling, setting the stage for a final showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court later this year that will determine the shape, style and bank accounts of the nation's major political campaigns.

Nearly five months after the McCain-Feingold law was argued before the panel, most of the soft money prohibitions were declared to be unconstitutional by a 2-1 majority, possibly clearing the way for major political parties to begin raising the large, unregulated sums of money from corporations, trade unions and wealthy individuals that critics said had plagued major election campaigns during the past two decades.

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