PRESS RELEASE from the Republican National Committee
Thursday, November 13, 2008

RNC Files Lawsuits Challenging Constitutionality of Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's Ban on National Parties

WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today announced it will file lawsuits in the District of Columbia and Louisiana challenging, respectively, the constitutionality of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act's ban on national parties raising and spending non-federal dollars, and the constitutionality of political party coordinated expenditure limits. The RNC does so to defend its interests as a national party committee with varied interests, including both state and federal elections, as well as redistricting and grassroots lobbying. RNC Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan released the following statement today concerning the lawsuits.

"The campaign finance restrictions the RNC today challenged infringe on the First Amendment's core: political speech and association," Duncan said. "The RNC must have the ability to support state candidates, coordinate expenditures with our candidates, and truly engage in political activity on a national level.The RNC has operated under and complied with these provisions of the law since their enactment, and as applied it is unconstitutional."