WASHINGTON, D.C. — The AFL-CIO filed suit in federal court Monday challenging the recently enacted campaign finance law that places new restrictions how money is raised and spent in federal elections, reports a wire service.
The labor federation joins other opponents of the new law, such as the National Rifle Association, the Christian Coalition and Sen. Mitch McConnell (news, bio, voting record), R-Ky. Each has filed their own lawsuit.
“This law … unfairly and severely interferes with the ability of unions to communicate with the public and to advance working family interests in the U.S. Congress,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.
“Although other legal challenges to the new law are pending, the labor movement now will be able to advance our own claims and principles directly,” he said.
The AFL-CIO is challenging a provision in the law that makes it a crime for an organization to air an advertisement referring to a federal candidate within 60 days of a general election or 30 days of a primary election or convention.
The federation argues that the measure could ban all broadcast references to a candidate, such as an incumbent president, for as long as a year before a national election.
The lawsuit also challenges provisions that define unlawful coordination between unions and candidates. The AFL-CIO claims the provision would ban unions from working with legislators and advocating issues.
The suit also objects to measures that require unions and political committees to disclose in advance possible public communications that might refer to candidates or issues.
“The AFL-CIO supports strong disclosure laws, but forced publication of the mere intention to speak later will exert chilling effects and impose unjustified burdens and costs,” the federation said.