Observing the Restricted Speech Zone

• By Michael E. Toner and Robert F. Bauer
• Special to Roll Call
• Sept. 26, 2006, Midnight

For the second consecutive election cycle, the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law will prohibit certain political ads from running during the last 60 days before Congressional elections. These are ads that refer to a federal candidate, are paid for out of a corporation or union’s general treasury funds and are broadcast to the candidate’s voters. Nothing more than the mere mention of a candidate is required for the ban to apply. No corporation is too small, or its purposes so educational or charitable, that it is excused from this law.