Minnesota Political Contribution Law Violates First Amendment

A Minnesota law barring businesses with foreign ownership from making political contributions and independent expenditures violates the First Amendment, a federal district court said.

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce showed that provisions in the Minnesota Fair Campaign Practices Act go too far in restricting the speech of corporations with foreign shareholders, Judge Eric C. Tostrud of the US District Court for the District of Minnesota said in a Feb. 7 opinion partially granting the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.

Minnesota officials are permanently enjoined from enforcing the “foreign-influenced corporation” provisions of the statute, the court said.

The Minnesota Chamber sued ...