A state appeals court recently struck a victory for those who believe taxpayer funding has no place in political campaigns.

The Third District Court of Appeal ruled that a law passed by the Legislature to authorize the practice was previously banned by Proposition 73, which passed in 1988.

Judge Quentin L. Kopp, who coauthored Prop. 73, filed the lawsuit challenging the validity of SB 1107 along with the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA).

SB 1107 would’ve allowed campaigns to be financed with public funds under some circumstances.

“California voters decided to prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used as political slush funds,” said Jon Coupal, HJTA president. “If politicians want to change that, they have to take the issue back to the voters.”

Voters indeed were asked to approved such funding in 2006 with Prop. 89, which lost by a margin of 74% to 26%.

The judge’s ruling in the Third District Court of Appeal was unanimous.