OPINION

Supreme Court strikes Arizona’s ‘matching funds’ for publicly financed candidates

Townhall Staff
Townhall Staff  |  Jun 28, 2011
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The Supreme Court on Monday struck down part of Arizona’s public campaign finance law, the latest in a series of its rulings holding that the right of political speech trumps government efforts to restrain the power of money in elections.

The court rejected Arizona’s system of providing additional funding to publicly funded candidates when they face big-spending opponents or opposition groups. The system has been used in every statewide and legislative election since voters approved it in 1998, after a rash of political scandals in the Arizona capitol.