Alternatives to Triggers: Public Campaign Financing After Arizona Free Enterprise

Publication Date: September 2011

Publisher: Center for Governmental Studies

Author(s): Tracy Westen

Research Area: Campaign Finance

Keywords: Campaign Financing ; alternative amendments; politics

Type: Report

Coverage: Arizona

Abstract:

In Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett (2011), the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated “trigger provisions” in public campaign financing laws that gave participating candidates additional funding when they were opposed by high spending nonparticipating candidates or independent expenditure groups. This paper discusses five alternative amendments to public campaign financing laws designed to avoid the constitutional obstacles described in Arizona Free Enterprise.