Chamber of Commerce asking for clarity on campaign finance laws

The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is asking a federal judge to clarify that current state campaign finance laws won't prevent corporate activity in elections.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a ban on companies and unions using money from their general treasuries to produce and run campaign ads. Mike Franklin, the chamber's director of elections policy, said business leaders want a clear declaration of what campaign activity is now permitted in Minnesota.

"Well, we still have statutes on the book that are preventing corporations, including the Minnesota chamber, from engaging in the kind of speech that is now permitted under the constitution," Franklin said. "Presumably it's an easy legal question, but what we want to make sure is that we don't have to go break the law before we can exercise our first amendment rights."

Franklin said the Chamber of Commerce would prefer a legislative remedy. State lawmakers could take up a bill this session to repeal the part of Minnesota election law that now conflicts with the Supreme Court ruling.