Campaigns: State’s reporting laws vulnerable

The Clarion-Ledger Editorial, 11/13/7

State law currently prohibits corporations from donating more than $1,000 to a political candidate’s campaign during an election cycle.

But that same corporation can donate unlimited money to a political action committee that is independent of the candidate and that makes independent expenditures for so-called “issue” advertising. During the 2007 elections, we saw examples of issue ads across the political spectrum.

The unfettered influence of PAC spending in state politics makes a mockery of the state’s already weak campaign finance laws.