CIR files expedited appeal in campaign finance case

The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held a hastily scheduled hearing today to consider CIR’s appeal of District Court Judge Paul Crotty’s denial of CIR’s earlier motion for a preliminary injunction barring enforcemeent of New York’s unconstitutional contribution limits on independent campaign committees.  CIR’s client, the New York Progress and Protection PAC, desires to run adverntisements in favor of NYC mayoral candidate Joe Lhota, but is limited in the funds it can raise due to the campaign limits. With the election three weeks away, CIR asked the Second Circuit to expedite its appeal, filed yesterday. The court granted that motion and convened today’s hearing one day later. Every court that has considered the issue has concluded that state’s may not limit contributions to independent campaign committees.