Last week’s Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission declared that corporations are guaranteed the right to free speech endowed to individuals by the First Amendment. The court identified money as a form of speech, therefore corporations can use as much of their general funds as they wish to advocate for the election or defeat of a candidate. These groups are still prohibited from contributing directly to a campaign, but the ruling invalidates the corporate spending limits established by the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002.
The influence of money on our political system offers a sad glimpse into the health of our country’s democracy. Rabbi David Saperstein, Director of the Religious Action Center, detailed the influence that this decision could have on advocacy organizations, including Jewish groups. Read his remarks on the decision here.
For more information, be sure to check out talking points and last week’s blog post on this decision.