Iowa Right to Life Committee, Inc. v. Tooker

MANSFIELD, Justice.

We have been asked to answer two certified questions of law in a federal case brought by Iowa Right to Life Committee, Inc. (IRTL) challenging the constitutionality of Iowa’s campaign finance laws. The nub of the matter is whether a corporation must form a “political committee” under Iowa law if it wants to spend more than seven hundred fifty dollars advocating the election or defeat of Iowa candidates. Although Iowa’s laws are not entirely clear (which explains the federal court’s decision to certify), we conclude a corporation like IRTL may engage in express advocacy…