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Court Upholds NYC's Campaign Finance Law Over Lobbyists' Challenge

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The federal Appeals Court turned back a legal challenge mounted by lobbyists against New York City's campaign finance law which limits contributions from anyone doing business with the City, and bars corporate contributions, including partnerships.

"This is a victory for individual New Yorkers and clean government and clean campaign finance," said City Council Speaker Christine Quinn.

LISTEN: WCBS 880's Rich Lamb reports

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Quinn characterized those who failed in their attempt to overturn the law as "people who didn't want big business and special interests taken out of campaign donations."

"They put a very powerful provision into the law that significantly limits to a couple of hundred dollars how much money you can give a candidate if you are trying to get city contracts, if you are trying to get a re-zoning, if you are engaged in an attempt to get city business. That was upheld," she said.

"The Court upheld the actions of the City Council, actions we took to limit the involvement of businesses in funding campaigns, to limit pay-to-play, to limit the involvement of people who are giving money to candidates who also are trying to get City business," the Speaker added.

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