Leveling the Campaign Finance Playing Field

The laws of six states prohibit businesses—but not unions or other groups—from contributing to political parties, committees, or candidates. This uneven playing field violates state and federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection, free speech, and free association. The Goldwater Institute is challenging Massachusetts’ contribution ban, just as it successfully challenged a similar Kentucky contribution ban, in order to vindicate the constitutional rights of businesses to participate on equal footing with unions and other groups in the political process. Victory in this case will advance equal treatment on the political playing field and strengthen the rights of all Americans to participate fully in the political process.