Senate Bill 1263, Election Law Amendments, (sponsored by Martin Nesbitt (D-Buncombe) passed on the last day of the 2008 Short Session in a rush to make a Fourth Circuit Federal Court decision part of North Carolina law.  Although the final judgment in the case has not been filed, the General Assembly voted to make it law, effective immediately.  So in the middle of the 2008 election cycle, the rules were changed so independent groups can spend unlimited amounts of money in a campaign, as long as they don?t co-ordinate with the candidate.  Almost immediately the Republican Governors? Association set up a political action committee to take advantage of the change and then a renewed interest in campaign funding by the Service Employees International Union and other groups.  It goes to show that no matter what the rules are, how or when they are changed, those who want to influence elections will find a way to do it. Free speech is a delicate balance. Scott Mooneyham writes on this today.