National Republican Senatorial Committee v. Federal Election Comm’n · ¶43

First, in 1974, Congress enacted the political-party coordinated-expenditure limits for the “purpose of reducing what it saw as wasteful and excessive campaign spending.” Colorado I, 518 U. S., at 618 (opinion of Breyer, J.). But we need not linger on that governmental interest because no one actually invokes or defends it here. Nor could they. Such an interest is a flatly impermissible basis for restricting speech. This Court has consistently held that Congress may not restrict campaign-related spending simply to “reduce the amount of money in politics.” Cruz, 596 U. S., at 305; see also Buckley, 424 U. S., at 57. Congress may not dictate how much political speech is too much or how much spending on speech is too much. Nor may Congress restrict campaign spending so as to level the electoral playing field, or to enhance or diminish the relative influence of certain groups or views.…

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