Reply #2: Wonder if they will discuss the campaign reform issue before the court now

[madfloridian]

Dean was in VT on Monday announcing this "friend of the court" brief.

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060207/NEWS02/602070307/1007&theme=

Former Gov. Howard Dean announced Monday that the Democratic National Committee, of which he is chairman, would file a friend-of-the-court legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a Vermont law that set spending limits for candidates seeking public office.

"The Democratic Party has to be on record in favor of real campaign finance reform," Dean said. "It's time to take forever the stench of dirty money out of politics."

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider the constitutionality of Vermont's 1997 campaign finance law following oral arguments scheduled for Feb. 28. The case focuses on the provisions in the law that limit how much candidates can spend and how much political parties can contribute to campaigns. The Vermont Republican Party, Libertarians and Vermont Right to Life challenged these limits as restrictions on free speech.

"I'm very proud as the DNC chair to be doing this," Dean said. It would be hypocritical for Democrats to "pillory Republicans for corruption," Dean said, and then fail to support a strong campaign reform law such as Vermont's. He admitted that some people in the Democratic Party aren't thrilled he had chosen to put the party on record in support of Vermont's law. "I think it is going to shock a lot of people. I'll get some backlash."