Judges tosses Montana campaign finance limits

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  1. ATP
    a nucleotide derived from adenosine that occurs in muscle tissue; the major source of energy for cellular reactions
    "The old contributions limits were so low candidates had no choice but to grovel before special interests to get elected," ATP Montana Director Doug Lair said in a statement.
  2. political party
    a group that tries to run the government
    Barring an appeal that stays the judge's order, the ruling means individuals and political parties can dump unlimited amounts of money into the coffers of their preferred candidate at the very peak of the campaign season.
  3. grovel
    show submission or fear
    "The old contributions limits were so low candidates had no choice but to grovel before special interests to get elected," ATP Montana Director Doug Lair said in a statement.
  4. unconstitutional
    not consistent with or according to fundamental laws
    HELENA, Mont.—A federal judge on Wednesday struck down Montana's campaign contribution limits as unconstitutional, a decision that comes less than a month before Election Day and marks the latest in a string of court rulings against the state's campaign laws.
  5. amass
    collect or gather
    District Judge Charles Lovell, who issued the decision three weeks after a trial, said current limits prevent Montana candidates from amassing the money needed to run an effective campaign.
  6. coffer
    the funds of a government, institution, or individual
    Barring an appeal that stays the judge's order, the ruling means individuals and political parties can dump unlimited amounts of money into the coffers of their preferred candidate at the very peak of the campaign season.
  7. bullock
    a young male of domesticated cattle
    Attorney General Steve Bullock promised to fight the decision.
  8. appeals court
    a court whose jurisdiction is to review decisions of lower courts or agencies
    Last month, a federal appeals court struck down Montana's ban on partisan endorsements of judicial candidates, citing Citizens United.
  9. candidate
    someone who is considered for something
    Barring an appeal that stays the judge's order, the ruling means individuals and political parties can dump unlimited amounts of money into the coffers of their preferred candidate at the very peak of the campaign season.
  10. overturn
    cause to flip from an upright or normal position
    The conservative group that brought the lawsuit to overturn the limits applauded the decision.
  11. activist
    a reformer who works to achieve social or political change
    Conservative activists, corporations, and Republican groups argued that the contribution limits are unconstitutionally low and prevent effective campaigning.
  12. aggregate
    a sum total of many heterogeneous things taken together
    The law also limited aggregate donations from political parties.
  13. Conservative
    a member of a Conservative Party
    Conservative activists, corporations, and Republican groups argued that the contribution limits are unconstitutionally low and prevent effective campaigning.
  14. partisan
    a fervent and even militant proponent of something
    Last month, a federal appeals court struck down Montana's ban on partisan endorsements of judicial candidates, citing Citizens United.
  15. Attorney General
    the position of the head of the Justice Department and the chief law enforcement officer of the United States
    Attorney General Steve Bullock promised to fight the decision.
  16. expenditure
    the act of spending money for goods or services
    Lovell also decided that Montana cannot ban corporations from making contributions to political committees that make independent expenditures—a similar issue to the one addressed in Citizens United.
  17. judicial
    expressing careful judgment
    Last month, a federal appeals court struck down Montana's ban on partisan endorsements of judicial candidates, citing Citizens United.
  18. subsequently
    happening at a time later than another time
    The Supreme Court subsequently tossed the state's century-old, voter-approved ban on independent corporate political spending in state races.
  19. constitutional
    existing as an essential characteristic
    That decision prompted a new ballot initiative that, if approved in November by voters, asks state leaders to seek a constitutional amendment undermining the high court's decision.
  20. extensive
    large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
    "This court will in due course issue complete and extensive findings of fact and conclusions of law that support this order," the judge wrote.
  21. Republican
    a member of the younger of two major U.S. political parties
    Conservative activists, corporations, and Republican groups argued that the contribution limits are unconstitutionally low and prevent effective campaigning.
  22. Senate
    the upper house of the United States Congress
    House and Senate that are covered under other laws.
Created on Wed Oct 03 21:21:30 EDT 2012

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