Stop Reckless Economic Instability Caused by Democrats, et al. v. FEC (Appeals court)

On April 22, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued an order in Stop Reckless Economic Instability Caused by Democrats ("Stop PAC"), et al. v. FEC denying the plaintiffs' petition for rehearing and rehearing en banc of the appeals court''s February 2016 ruling in this case. Plaintiffs had challenged the differing contribution limits for multicandidate and non-multicandidate political action committees (PACs).

The plaintiffs — a group of political committees and a federal candidate — contended that the limits infringed on their First Amendment rights of association and expression, as well as the Fifth Amendment''s guarantee of equal protection. The appeals court's February 2016 ruling dismissed as moot the challenge to the limits for non-multicandidate committees, and affirmed the district court's judgment that the multicandidate limits do not violate the equal protection guarantee of the Fifth Amendment.

Resources:

• Order [PDF]
• Stop Reckless Economic Instability Caused by Democrats, et al. v. FEC litigation page