Democrats ask Supreme Court to let them defend political contribution limits

Washington — Democratic groups are urging the Supreme Court to let them defend federal limits on coordinated spending between campaigns and political committees if the high court agrees to hear a Republican case seeking to ease those restrictions.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic National Committee and Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee filed a motion with the Supreme Court on Friday in a case brought by the National Senatorial Campaign Committee against the Federal Election Commission, seeking to challenge the rules limiting how parties and candidates can coordinate political spending. Limits on contributions to parties are generally much higher than restrictions on donations to candidates.

But now the FEC and Justice Department aren't enforcing those federal limits, with the Trump administration arguing the law is unconstitutional. The Democratic groups are asking the court to allow them to argue in defense of the law if the court agrees to take the case, since the two sides are no longer at odds.