If you haven’t seen it yet, there’s a pretty nice writeup in the CJ about the SCOTUS ‘corporate personhood’ ruling and what it means for elections in Kentucky.
Craig Dilger, chairman of the Kentucky Registry of Election Finance, said the ruling conflicts with Kentucky’s Constitution, which prohibits corporations from giving anything of value to a candidate for office. The registry may have to change its rules or seek legislation to comply with the ruling.
Dilger said the state needs to consider requiring corporations that engage in political activity to disclose their activity and determine if it can limit the amount of money that could be spent on behalf of a candidate.
Emily Dennis, general counsel for the registry, said the decision won’t affect the state’s prohibition on corporate contributions directly to campaigns.
Indiana imposes limits on corporate and labor contributions to campaigns and campaign committees, which are not affected by the court’s decision. However, it does not restrict independent corporate expenditures on advertising during campaigns, though such commercials are rare.
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Kentucky Senate President David Williams, R-Burkesville, said he doesn’t believe the court ruling will make much difference, since corporations and labor unions have in the past been “ignoring” the law by using PACs and “527 groups,” so named because they are organized under Section 527 of the federal tax code.
In Indiana, some expect the court’s decision to open the door to major spending on Indiana’s federal races, especially in Democrat Baron Hill’s 9th Congressional district — which has been hotly contested over the last decade. This year at least three Republicans, Including New Albany businessman Mike Sodrel, plan to seek the party’s nomination to try to unseat Hill.
“This absolutely changes the game,” said former state Democratic Party Chairman Kip Tew, who was a co-chairman of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign in Indiana. “This would mean that Mike Sodrel’s (trucking) company could now do whatever it wanted to help Sodrel get elected.”
