Posted by Tina
The Supreme Court ruling today will have a huge impact on the next election cycle.
“Justices Block Key Part of Campaign Law” – NY Times
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court threw out a 63-year-old law designed to restrain the influence of big business and unions on elections Thursday, ruling that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress. The decision could drastically alter who gives and gets hundreds of millions of dollars in this year’s crucial midterm elections. ** By a
5-4 vote, the court overturned two of its own decisions as well as the decades-old law that said companies and labor unions can be prohibited from using money from their general treasuries to produce and run their own campaign ads. The decision threatens similar limits imposed by 24 states. ** It leaves in place a prohibition on direct contributions to candidates from corporations and unions. ** ”The censorship we now confront is vast in its reach,” Justice Anthony Kennedy said in his majority opinion, joined by his four more conservative colleagues. ** Strongly disagreeing, Justice John Paul Stevens said in his dissent, ”The court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation.”
Democrats plot bill to limit impact of court finance decision,” by Alexander Bolton – The Hill
Democratic leaders in Congress will move legislation to limit the impact of a decision made by the Supreme Court Thursday to lift restrictions on corporate spending on elections. ** Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and third-ranking member of the Senate Democratic leadership, said he would hold hearings to explore ways to limit corporate spending on elections.
But not unions, right? Citizens are tired of laws that give an advantage to some and restrict what others can do. We are tired of laws that leave the door open for politicians to favor groups for votes while punishing or restricting others. We need campaign laws that support the process and honor freedom of expression; we do not need laws that give politicians a tool for manipulating their own advantage.
I applaud the ruling and favor open contributions with full immediate disclosure of the source for every penny.