Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Ballot Access News: Colorado Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Case over Discriminatory Campaign Contribution Limits

"Colorado campaign finance laws permit an individual to donate $400 to a candidate for the legislature who is nominated by primary. Almost always, only Democrats and Republicans are nominated by primary in Colorado. The statute also says no one can give more than $200 to a legislative candidate who is nominated by convention, or by petition. Generally, independent candidates are nominated by petition; minor party candidates are nominated either by convention or by petition.
Last year, independent write-in candidate Kathleen Curry filed a federal lawsuit, arguing that the U.S. Constitution does not permit a state to discriminate against her, and other non-major party candidates, by limiting contributions to her to only half as much money as the limit on Democratic and Republican candidates. She filed the case in U.S. District Court. However, on September 16, the U.S. District Court Judge ruled that perhaps the Colorado statute violates the Colorado Constitution. He asked the Colorado Supreme Court to answer that question. On February 4, 2011, the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to do so."
More case information, plus commenting, is at http://www.ballot-access.org/2011/03/01/colorado-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-case-over-discriminatory-contribution-limits/
Presently, Colorado law limits how much people may contribute to minor party candidates and Independent candidates in relation to those of the major political parties.

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