Dist. Ct. did not err in dismissing three of four counts in plaintiffs’ section 1983 action alleging that campaign contribution limits set by Ill. Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Act (Act) violated plaintiffs' First Amendment rights. Supreme Ct. precedent precluded plaintiffs from prevailing on contention that Act improperly: (1) set lower contribution limits for individuals than for corporations; (2) allowed political parties to make unlimited contributions to candidates during general election; and (3) lifted contribution limits for all candidates in race if one candidate’s self-funding or support from independent expenditure groups exceeded $250,000 in state-wide race or $100,000 in any other election. Moreover, Dist. Ct. could properly reject plaintiff’s fourth claim pertaining to ability of legislative caucus committees to make unlimited contributions to candidates during general election, where said legislative caucus committees are sufficiently similar to political party committees that can make unlimited contributions to candidates in general elections.
Federal 7th Circuit Court
Civil Court
Election Law