Repeal Of Campaign Giving Law Renders Lawsuit Moot Over Type Of Donor Limits

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A lawyer for a group challenging Minnesota restrictions on certain campaign donations has advised a federal judge that the case can be dismissed following changes to the state law made by the Legislature.

In a letter to the judge Wednesday, the Institute for Justice attorney said the First Amendment challenge was satisfied through actions of lawmakers. They repealed a portion of a law that limits the amount of money state candidates can take from big donors. Those limits had been on hold pending action in the legislative session.

The law in question says candidates could only accept 20 percent of their donations money from these types of donors before tighter limits kick in. Similar federal candidate caps had been struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Legislature left intact the limits on contributions from lobbyists and political funds.