Decision could result in challenge to Mass. law

The Supreme Court decision striking down Vermont's limits on political donations could pave the way for a challenge to Massachusetts' donation caps.

Massachusetts currently limits contributions from individuals, organizations, or political parties to $500 a year.

The court ruled that Vermont's caps, which range from $200 for state legislative races to $400 for gubernatorial races, were too low and violated free speech rights. The justices have upheld the constitutionality of $1,000 caps, but so far have not ruled on limits that fall somewhere in between, such as those in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts' limits could be challenged in the courts or in the Legislature, where a pending bill would raise the limit to $1,000.

Pamela Wilmot, head of Common Cause Massachusetts, which pushed to lower the limit from $1,000 to $500 more than a decade ago, said the $500 cap is not too low and would survive any legal or political challenge.

``We're on par with 11 other states," she said. ``Lower contribution limits help challengers and gives more voice to average citizens, as opposed to wealthy citizens, who can afford $1,000 contributions."

State Representative William M. Straus, a Democrat from Mattapoisett who is sponsoring a bill to return the contribution limit to $1,000, said higher caps make it easier for average people to run .

``I view raising the limit as actually the kind of reform that we need in Massachusetts," Straus said. ``Otherwise, we will have people bemoaning the fact that only multimillionaires want to run for office. They are effectively the only people these days who can get into these races.

``The court recognizes that Vermont had overreached by having such low dollar contribution limits that they were closing down the funnel, the entryway, so much that you're beginning to inhibit First Amendment rights," he said.

But the major focus of the ruling, striking down Vermont's spending limits, is unlikely to affect candidates in Massachusetts, where there are no spending caps, specialists said.

The state allows candidates to spend as much as they want on their campaigns, setting voluntary limits only if a statewide candidate is seeking public financing.

In the Democratic race for governor, for example, Deval Patrick and Thomas F. Reilly have agreed to a cap of $1.5 million and are eligible for public financing. Christopher Gabrieli is not seeking public financing, but was required to set a cap that his opponents could match.

He set the limit at $15.3 million.

The Vermont law limited campaign spending at levels ranging from $2,000 for a state lawmakers to $300,000 for governor.