Nonprofits Urge Supreme Court to Protect Grassroots Communications

I admit, I have not been watching the Wisconsin Right to Life case as closely as I should, but here is a link to a press release about an amicus brief submitted by a group of charities. (the release contains links to the WRTL brief and the amicus brief.

"Unlike the corporations producing 'sham issue ads' that the electioneering communications provision was designed to prevent," explains OMB Watch policy analyst Jennifer Lowe-Davis, "charities cannot establish federally registered political action committees to engage in political spending. While these corporations may take comfort in knowing they can engage in free speech through a segregated fund, charities are silenced."

This case illustrates a growing problem in campaign finance, who gets exempted from the rules. In general, rules should admit only a few exceptions. This case is another example of how poorly the McCain-Feingold bill was drafted.