The court will decide whether issue ads aired mainly on television-- and
funded by businesses, labor unions, and other groups--can be banned 60 days before a general election, and 30 days before a primary. That restriction is a key part of the McCain-Feingold bill that put
limits on political spending and messages.
Issue ads are often used to promote causes like environmental protection or tax reform; they are not allowed to endorse--or even mention--a candidate or political party. An anti-choice group, Wisconsin Right to Life, filed a lawsuit in 2004, demanding the right to air ads urging voters to contact their U.S. senators, Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold, both Democrats, and tell them to support the Bush Administration's judicial nominees.
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