A U.S. District Court judge Friday denied a request to block Illinois' campaign contribution limits, but the group behind it plans to continue efforts to get the new law tossed out. Illinois Liberty PAC argued the law was unfair because contribution limits only apply to individuals and groups like businesses and labor unions, not to political parties.
“Party bosses should have to live under the same laws they impose on the rest of us,” Dan Proft, chairman of Illinois Liberty PAC and former gubernatorial hopeful, said in a written statement when the group filed the suit. “Everyone who wants to participate in the political process in Illinois should be treated equally.”
But federal Judge Gary Feinerman of the Northern District of Illinois denied the group’s request to lift the limits. “If a preliminary injunction were granted, there would be no contribution limits for individuals and PACs in the weeks leading up to the 2012 Illinois state elections. This would create a manifest possibility of actual or apparent corruption, an irreparable harm to Illinois, its citizens and the public interest."
“This federal ruling ensures that rules to combat corruption in Illinois state government will remain in place in the coming weeks through this, the first general election under this important reform measure,” David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, said in a prepared statement.
“We don’t believe that there would have been any harm in striking these caps down as unconstitutional,” said Diane Cohen, general counsel representing Illinois Liberty PAC. The group plans to appeal and still hopes to get the limits blocked before the general election in November.
You can read Jamey's full report at: http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/judge-rules-to-keep-campaign.html
In the pic: Judge Gary Feinerman
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