Overview
- Oral arguments are set for Dec. 9 in a case asking the Court to scrap a 2001 precedent that upheld limits on political parties’ coordinated spending with federal candidates.
- The Justice Department declined to defend the rule, and a court‑appointed lawyer, Roman Martinez, urged dismissal because there is no current enforcement threat and the case resembles a request for an advisory opinion.
- Republican plaintiffs and business allies, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, argue the caps unconstitutionally restrict party speech and hinder party operations on behalf of candidates.
- Democratic committees and Public Citizen warn that eliminating coordination limits would create effectively unlimited party funding and heighten quid pro quo corruption risks, pointing to surging outside spending since Citizens United.
- The 6th Circuit upheld the limits based on the 2001 ruling, and a Supreme Court decision is expected by the end of June, with outcomes ranging from dismissal to further deregulation of campaign finance.