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The United States Supreme Court ruled yesterday in the case Citizens United Vs. Federal Elections Commission, to overturn the 2002 McCain Feingold Campaign finance law limiting corporate and union funding in elections. In a 5-4 decision, Bush appointees, Justices Roberts and Alito joined justices Scalia, Thomas and Kennedy in voting against the law on the basis of protecting the free speech rights of businesses. But the plaintiff, Citizens United, cast the decision as a way for small businesses and non-profit advocacy groups to band together to “counterbalance the political speech of the super-rich.” The Supreme Court overturned its own 2003 precedent when it ruled that McCain-Feingold was constitutional in an earlier challenge. As campaign spending continues to break records over the years, this decision could result in an even greater barrage of advertisements for voters. New York’s Democratic Senator Charles Schumer denounced the ruling, saying “”The Supreme Court just predetermined the winners of next November’s elections… It won’t be Republicans. It won’t be Democrats. It will be corporate America.” Under the 2002 law, corporations, organizations and unions were required to funnel their money through political action committees or PACs that were regulated. Now, spending can come directly from a corporation on a given side of an issue or candidate and campaigning can be financed right up until the very moment before an election result is announced. In spite of yesterday’s ruling corporations and other entities are still required to disclose the identities of funders, and still forbidden from making direct contributions to candidates.

GUEST: Scott Nelson, attorney with Public Citizen’s Litigation Group

For more information, visit www.citizen.org, and www.dontgetrolled.org.