Missouri Broadcasters Raise Concerns Over High Court Campaign Finance Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold the campaign finance reform law is seen by at least one group as the court amending the First Amendment. Don Hicks with the Missouri Broadcasters Association says the ban on campaign ads on radio and TV 30 days before a primary and 60 days before the general election is the government telling groups what political discourse will be. The writers of the law intended to keep special interest groups with deep pockets from wielding too much power over a candidate or an election. But Hicks says the money will still be there. Some industry members believe this might even mean more money put into the campaigns and spent on ads earlier by the special interest groups, while those same groupswould be able to donate money to state political parties which might not have the same restrictions on when they can run ads.