Liberty Justice Center files lawsuit challenging lllinois campaign finance law

On July 24, 2012, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ campaign finance law. The law establishes a series of contribution limits on individuals and associations, including our client, Illinois Liberty PAC, while exempting political parties and their leaders from these same limits. The law’s overall scheme includes political party exemptions...

On July 24, 2012, the Liberty Justice Center filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois’ campaign finance law.

The law establishes a series of contribution limits on individuals and associations, including our client, Illinois Liberty PAC, while exempting political parties and their leaders from these same limits.

The law’s overall scheme includes political party exemptions and opportunities for political parties and their leaders to circumvent the few limits there are in the law.  This shows the law does not serve the only interest the Supreme Court has recognized for justifying such speech restrictions, including preventing corruption or the appearance of corruption. Indeed, it was enacted under the guise of campaign finance reform, but in reality, Illinois political leaders legislated themselves above the law and literally sanctioned their own control over the flow of campaign spending throughout the state.

The Liberty Justice Center also filed  a motion seeking to immediately stop the enforcement of this statute so that everyone, not just political parties and their leaders, will be free to exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech.

The Liberty Justice Center is a public interest litigation center that was started by the Illinois Policy Institute in 2011. Our mission is to fight for economic and personal liberty, free speech and other fundamental rights in Illinois and beyond. To learn more about the work of the Liberty Justice Center visit libertyjusticecenter.org.