Posted by Laura Glendinning in News and Analysis on January 21, 2010
LOS ANGELES (YBH.ME) - “If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.” So said Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for the majority in the 5-4 opinion. He was joined in his opinion by the 4 other justices thought of as conservative. Under the ruling, political contributions from corporate entities can now be freely tapped for campaigns.
Supreme Court Upholds Free Political Speech in Controversial Decision
The court was hearing an appeal of a lower court decision which had blocked the release of a documentary film about Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Presidential campaign. The lower court had held the film’s release violated the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (commonly called theMcCain-Feingold Act) – prohibiting corporate political involvement.
The White House issued this statement regarding the decision:
With its ruling today, the Supreme Court has given a green light to a new stampede of special interest money in our politics. It is a major victory for big oil, Wall Street banks, health insurance companies and the other powerful interests that marshal their power every day in Washington to drown out the voices of everyday Americans.
Senator Mitch McConnell, an opponent of McCain-Feingold, has insisted over the past few years that barring corporations and labor unions from political contributions violated the First Amendment.