Republicans aren't the only ones trying to do away with parts of the state's campaign finance law.
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Yesterday, Independent Source PAC sent out a press release siding with axing the state's $5,000 cap on independent expenditures, or money raised by organizations that don't work directly with political parties or candidates. The organization prides itself on investigating "the hypocrisy and corruption of conservative political candidates," according to its website.
The state GOP recently filed a lawsuit over five parts of the law, which limits most campaign, political party and PAC donations to $5,000. The logic of the suit falls heavily on the controversial Citizen's United ruling from the US Supreme Court, which, for the most part, allows unlimited campaign spending from corporations and unions.
Last week, Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director Steve Allen told SFR that Republicans would likely prevail in at least one part of the lawsuit—cutting the limits on independent expenditures.
Michael Corwin, Independent Source PAC's executive director, agrees.
"It's clearly unconstitutional," Corwin tells SFR. "It's not going to be upheld."
He points to US Supreme Court ruling that contributions from independent expenditures have no appearance of corruption. Still, this is a ruling that came in Citizen's United, which many liberals and Democrats object to.
"There's no doubt that money can corrupt politics," Corwin says. "I personally think the decision was what it was and that we have to work with it."
Corwin says his PAC will be able to raise more money from unions and "working families" without the $5,000 independent expenditure limits. He adds that he supports only doing away with independent expenditure limits.
"I know fellow Democrats don't like it, but you can either wake up to reality or stick your head in the sand," Corwin says.
Photo courtesy Independent Source PAC.
