Catherwood LibraryILR School

The cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, California have reacted with alacrity to the recent Supreme Court decision that declared caps on corporate and union election spending unconstitutional. The cities have both lifted the maximum limits on corporate and union monetary contributions during election campaigns. In LA, city officials adopted a voluntary resolution to lift limits last week, and made the announcement yesterday. In San Diego, officials were pushed to lift limits by a law suit by the local Republican party and several of its contributors. Local courts ruled that the ban should be immediately lifted. The lifting of limits on both union and corporate contributions to elections does not necessarily help one party over the other, though it will give challengers more of a fighting chance against incumbents. The new rules will mean that unions and contributions no longer have to go through other organizations or form political action committees to contribute.