Campaign Spending on Steroids

Well, they went and did it. The US Supreme Court today ruled that corporations have first amendment rights (even though they really aren't people) and therefore their spending on political campaigns cannot be prohibited: corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress.

The Court in a 5-4 ruling overturned a 20 year law that restricted corporations from spending monies to support or oppose federal candidates. Several states have the same restrictions on spending in state campaigns.

As part of the 5-4 minority: Justice Stevens, who read part of his harsh dissent from the bench, said, "The court's opinion is thus a rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self-government since the founding."

This will in the opinion of a political insider in Washington, DC, put "campaign spending on steroids."