Pay-To-Play Going Away?

by: parnell44

Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 07:07:04 PM EST

Up against this is Gov. Christie's executive order prohibiting unions from making political donations, ostensibly because unions are exempt from "pay-to-play" rules.  In response, CWA District 1 has filed a suit challenging the constitutionality of Christie's executive order.  But instead of relying on Citizens United, their basis is that they should not be equated with businesses, since they do not do business with the state.

In my opinion, they would have a better case relying on the Citizens United decision (no matter what one may think about it), which would trump anything on the state level, perhaps pay-to-play rules as well.  

This SCOTUS decision may have the effect of striking down "pay-to-play" rules as an abridgment of the free speech of corporations.  Who knows what else may be in its path?