High court reaffirms 'soft money' ban

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court has reaffirmed a ban on unlimited contributions to political parties, rejecting a Republican party appeal to undo a major aspect of a congressional overhaul of campaign finance law.

Five months after the court ruled in favor of unlimited corporate and labor spending in federal elections, the justices on Tuesday turned down a request to consider ending the ban on the raising of soft money - unlimited donations from corporations, unions and others - by national party committees.

The soft money ban was a cornerstone of the 2002 overhaul of federal campaign finance law.