Judge Rejects State Law Restricting PAC Fundraising

CHICAGO (AP) — A federal judge has struck down part of Illinois' campaign finance law that restricted fundraising by independent political action committees.

Judge Marvin Aspen ruled Tuesday that the law's restrictions were unconstitutional. The law had limited the amount that PACs could raise and prevented anyone from maintaining more than one PAC.

Aspen sided with Personal PAC, an abortion rights political action committee that filed a challenge in February.

Personal PAC attorney Juliet Berger-White says the group had asked for an expedited decision ahead of the March 20 primary.

Aspen's ruling grants a permanent injunction prohibiting the Illinois State Board of Elections from enforcing the portions of the law that he says violate the First Amendment.

The rules relate to PACs that are independent of political campaigns.

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