Oregon Supreme Court rules in favor of campaign contribution limits
Oregon's Supreme Court, reversing its longstanding ban on strict campaign finance limits, on Thursday, April 23, ruled in favor of a voter-approved Multnomah County law putting a $500 limit on campaign donations.
However, the court ruled against portions of the county charter amendment dealing with expenditure limits.
The court sent the entire case back to the trial court to decide whether the limits violate federal free-speech protections. As a result, the ruling could lead to new campaign finance limits throughout the state.
Oregon voters in 2006 approved a $500 limit on donations to statewide candidates and a $100 limit on other state and local races, but they were never allowed to go into effect.
The court's new ruling opens the way for supporters to argue for the imposition of those limits. At the same time, the ruling may also leave the last word to Oregon voters.
They will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment this fall that would allow limits on the flow of big money into Oregon political campaigns.
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