Court decision opens floodgates for corporate political spending
As we shall discuss the SCOTOUS decision that many hail as a victory for real free speech, and others decry as as the Dread-Scott decision of the two thousands, I suggest you read the article available below, which gives a good overview on this critical story.
By Kenneth P. Vogel
Thursday, January 21, 2010 for POLITICO
The Supreme Court-on Thursday opened wide new avenues for big-moneyed interests to pour money into politics in a decision that could have a major influence on the 2010 midterm elections and President Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign.-
The long-awaited 5-4 decision overruled all or parts of two prior rulings by the court that allowed governments to restrict corporations and unions from spending their general funds-on ads expressly urging a candidate’s election or defeat. But the decision upheld disclosure requirements for groups like the one that brought the case.
The decision,-handed down in a special session of the court, is generally expected to boost Republicans more than Democrats, because corporations and corporate-backed outside groups tend to align with conservatives and also often have access to more money than unions or liberal outside groups.
“No sufficient governmental interest justifies limits on the political speech of nonprofit or for-profit corporation,” Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote for the majority.
In a stinging dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote that the ruling “threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the nation. The path it has taken to reach its outcome will, I fear, do damage to this institution.”
Read the full article here: http://www.mysouthwestga.com/news/story.aspx?id=405144