High court to rule on Arizona campaign finance law

[June 27, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on an Arizona campaign finance law that gives extra cash to publicly funded candidates who face privately funded rivals and independent groups.

Supporters of stricter limits on political spending fear that the Arizona case will be the latest in a series of decisions by the court's conservative majority upending campaign finance laws.

The Arizona law was passed after a public corruption scandal and was intended to reward candidates who forgo raising campaign cash, even in the face of heavy spending by privately funded rivals or independent groups.

The law's challengers say it violates the First Amendment.

[Associated Press; By MARK SHERMAN]

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