Supreme Court to Hear Donations Case

By Alexandra Dodson

Staff Writer

The U.S. Supreme Court decided Monday to hear a case that could remove campaign contribution limits placed on nonprofit advocacy groups.

The case in question, Federal Election Commission v. Beaumont, could dictate the ways in which advocacy groups are allowed to support election campaigns.

Groups currently are allowed to fund independent campaign advertisements for a particular candidate but cannot make donations directly to those running.

Jim Bopp, an attorney for N.C. Right to Life, an anti-abortion advocacy group involved in the case, said that groups were seeking to strike down several election laws but that the one concerning donations was most important.

He said the ability to make these contributions will not result in abuse and manipulation of the political system, as some opponents have asserted, because groups would be limited to donations of $1,000 per candidate each election cycle.

"Through contribution limits, the law will stop undue influence," Bopp said. "Advocacy groups are simply another way for people of average means to be a part of the political process."

Not only advocacy groups, but also those who are opposed to direct donations by advocacy groups, say the case is important because the Supreme Court will take a stance on the issue.

"I think it's important that the court is taking the case," said Larry Noble of the Center for Responsive Politics, an election watch-dog group. "It's been a long battle for (the advocacy groups)."

Noble said that advocacy groups have a right to support candidates but that their support should not be financial.

Ian Stirton, spokesman for the Federal Election Commission, said that under very limited circumstances, federal election law allows some nonprofit groups to contribute to campaigns.

Corporations cannot make any contributions unless they act as a political action committee, he said. A PAC is set up by corporations and labor organizations and must solicit funding for donations instead of using the company's money.

But Bob Hall, research director for Democracy South, a Carrboro-based political think tank, said that if nonprofits are allowed to make direct contributions other than in limited circumstances, a disparity would be created.

He also said campaign donations by advocacy groups could lead to abuse or give some people undue power. "These organizations would get money from a handful of people and start doling it out in direct contributions," he said. "I guess it would change the landscape of who is involved in direct political activities."

Hall said that if advocacy groups give direct contributions, it would have a negative effect on politics. "Just a handful of people can have an enormous impact on an election," he said. "(An impact) you want to reserve for the voters."

The State & National Editor can be reached at stntdesk@unc.edu.