Monday, September 3, 2012

Supreme Court To Consider Campaign Funding

{Charleston, West Virginia}...The state Supreme Court says it will hear oral arguments Tuesday on the case filed by state Supreme Court Republican candidate Allen Loughry who wants the High Court to force the State Election Commission to provide the additional campaign funding he says he should already be receiving. Loughry is the only candidate in the Supreme Court race that has opted to take part in the new public financing project approved by state lawmakers. He's already received $350,000. Loughry says he's due as much as $700,000 more because incumbent Justice Robin Davis has spent $420,000 in the race. The State Election Commission refused to release the rescue funds on a 2-2 vote in July. Some commission members have expressed concern about the legality of the public financing project while other members say they want to defend the constitutionality of the state law. Supreme Court Justices Robin Davis, Margaret Workman and Brent Benjamin have disqualified themselves from the case. Three circuit judges have been appointed by temporary assignment.