Supreme Court strikes down Arizona matching funds campaign law

The Supreme Court axed an Arizona campaign finance law that provided additional taxpayer money to in-state candidates outspent by well-funded opponents and independent political groups.

In a split 5-4 decision, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, saying that the 1998 Citizens Clean Elections Act stifled free speech in political campaigns. "We hold that Arizona’s matching funds scheme substantially burdens protected political speech without serving a compelling state interest and therefore violates the First Amendment," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority. The court's ruling represents another blow to campaign finance laws that place restrictions or oversight on political spending. In 2009, the court knocked down limits on political contributions by corporations and unions in the case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.