Free Republic

The Supreme Court on Tuesday erased limits on how much political parties can spend in coordination with candidates for Congress and president, striking down a federal election law that is more than 50 years old. Prodded by a Republican-led lawsuit that includes Vice President JD Vance, the court’s six conservative justices were again in the majority of the latest decision that upended congressionally enacted limits on raising and spending money to influence elections. The court’s 2010 Citizens United decision opened the door to unlimited independent spending in federal elections. The limits on party spending stem from a desire to prevent...

STERLING, Va. -- House Republicans came to TART Lumber in suburban Washington, D.C. Thursday to unveil their "Pledge to America," a sweeping conservative agenda that calls for reigning in federal spending, permanently extending all of the Bush tax cuts and repealing President Obama's democratically passed health care reform law. Republicans are hoping the document serves as a rallying call for conservatives to get out the vote this fall and propel them back into the majority in the House of Representatives. "The Pledge" also gives us a preview of the issues Republicans would push should they succeed in their efforts. Although...

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. made it clear as he began taking questions at yesterday's National Italian American Foundation luncheon that he couldn't reveal any of the Supreme Court's forthcoming opinions. But did he at least give a hint? Two of the court's biggest remaining cases focus on the First Amendment, and while Alito didn't mention either, he did make it clear that any restrictions on speech face a high hurdle with him. "I'm a very strong believer in the First Amendment and the right of people to speak and to write," Alito said in response to a question of...

<p>June 6 will mark the 25th anniversary of California's Proposition 13 (search), the landmark victory of the 1970s tax revolt. Proposition 13 enjoyed immediate success, slashing property taxes and imposing some much-needed discipline on state and local spending.</p> <p>Twenty-five years later, however, California's fiscal situation has changed dramatically. State expenditures have soared and the Legislature is considering large tax increases to compensate for California's $35 billion shortfall. Indeed, California's changing fiscal fortunes provide valuable insights for those seeking to limit government in California and elsewhere.</p>