Justices to Assess Arizona Campaign Financing

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a First Amendment challenge to an Arizona law that provides matching funds to candidates who accept public financing.

The law, enacted in 1998, gives an initial sum to candidates for state office who accept public financing. Then it provides additional matching funds based on the amounts spent by privately financed opponents and by independent groups. There is reason to think the Supreme Court will find that second part of the law problematic. In June, the court issued an order barring its enforcement while appeals were prepared. And recent decisions from the court, including Citizens United in January and one striking down a federal measure known as the “millionaire’s amendment” in 2008, suggest that a majority of the justices are skeptical of government efforts to level the playing field in the area of political speech.