Tulsa World
A state ban on business and labor spending will be affected by a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer
Published: 1/22/2010 2:22 AM
Last Modified: 1/22/2010 4:28AM
Oklahoma is one of 24 states that must change state campaign finance laws because of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to allow corporations and labor unions a bigger role in political campaigns, officials confirmed Thursday.
"It certainly will affect our rules," said State Ethics Commission Executive Director Marilyn Hughes. "We have a ban on corporations and labor unions making expenditures from their treasury funds."
In a 5-4 split decision, the Supreme Court on Thursday threw out parts of a 63-year-old law barring corporations and labor unions from spending money in support of specific candidates. It left in place a ban on direct contributions to candidate campaigns.
Oklahoma ethics rules include a ban similar to the one tossed out by the Supreme Court. After Thursday morning's ruling, the Ethics Commission staff hurriedly drew up an addition to the agenda for its Friday meeting that will bring state ethics rules in line with the court decision.
Apparently left intact is Oklahoma's requirement that the independent expenditures covered by Thursday's ruling must be reported to the state Ethics Commission within 24 hours...
FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, January 22, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski