Iowa and eighteen other states have filed papers urging a federal court to uphold the “McCain-Feingold” campaign finance law. The law is designed to cut the flow of so-called “soft money” that’s funneled through political parties to candidates. Bob Brammer is a spokesman for Iowa’s Attorney General. He says the states are trying to hold off the court challenge that the bill is not constitutional.He says the Attorneys General believe the law is consitutional, and crucial to making a start in cleaning up the campaign finance system. Brammer says they don’t agree with the arguments brought against the bill. He says the main attacks have been that Congress exceeded its own authority, and intruded into the states’ authority. Brammer says they believe that argument is a false fear. Brammer says this is a unique case. He says Congress set up a special three-member federal district court panel in Washington, D.C. to test the constitutionality of the law. Brammer says the Attorneys General are hoping the court will be sway by their support of the law. He says the court will consider the bill and make a ruling. If that ruling is appealed, it will go straight to the Supreme Court. The law was past by Congress earlier this year and went into effect Wednesday.
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