Van Hollen Applauds Supreme Court's Ruling in RNC v. FEC

Statement

Today the Supreme Court affirmed the District Court of the District of Columbia's ruling in RNC v. FEC, confirming the current ban on soft money contributions. Below is Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen's statement on the ruling:

"I applaud the Supreme Court's decision today to affirm the lower court's ruling and reject an attempt by the Republican National Committee to throw out the current ban on soft money contributions to national political parties. The Court has consistently recognized the constitutionality of the soft money ban and in this decision maintains that wisdom."

BACKGROUND:

In March, a three-judge panel in the District Court of the District of Columbia considered a constitutional challenge from the Republican National Committee (RNC) to the soft money limits imposed by the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. The RNC argued that it should be allowed to collect unlimited contributions from corporations and wealthy individuals to pay for activities not directly related to federal elections, such as state campaigns, congressional redistricting, and grass roots lobbying. Congressman Van Hollen was an intervening defendant in the case on the side of the Federal Election Commission (FEC). The panel ultimately ruled in favor of the FEC, and today the Supreme Court affirmed that ruling.

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