The majority decision can be found here, for those more well-versed in legalese:The US supreme court has delivered a fresh blow to the Democrats, already reeling from their stunning defeat in the Massachusetts Senate race, by opening the floodgates to huge corporate funding of campaigns for or against presidential and congressional candidates.
In a decision that could have a profound impact on future elections, the court overturned a 20-year-old ruling that barred businesses from paying for campaign adverts. The decision in what is known as the Citizens United case will allow big businesses – such those selling arms, drugs or insurance companies – that already wield influence through lobby groups to openly back favoured candidates who support their interests.
The court also struck down part of a separate campaign finance bill that barred companies and trade unions from publishing political adverts in the closing days of election campaigns.
The ruling was swiftly condemned by liberal pressure groups such as the People for the American Way, which described it as "putting corporate power above individual rights".
"It is a long established principle that the government can act in the interest of democracy to prevent corporations from pouring in billions of dollars to unduly influence elections," the group said. "Given conservative rhetoric about deference to the democratically elected branches, today's ruling is stunning".
Republicans are expected to be the principal beneficiaries of the ruling, a further blow to some Democratic party candidates in November's midterm elections who are already feeling exposed after the Republican candidate, Scott Brown, won an upset victory in Massachusetts, taking the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic icon Edward (Ted) Kennedy.
Nineteen of the Democrats' remaining 59 seats in the Senate are up for re-election in November. Several incumbents told Politico that all of them are now considered vulnerable.
"Every state is now in play," said Barbara Boxer, who is facing a serious challenge for her California seat from a wealthy Republican, Carly Fiorina.
Other Democratic Senators are urging the administration to drop unpopular legislation, such as the cap-and-trade bill to control greenhouse gases, until the economy has recovered and voters are less concerned about government expenditure and the impact of such laws on business.
Senator Ben Cardin said: "People in our states want us to deal with the economy, with jobs. All of us are going to be subject to that type of anger."
Separately, the House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi has admitted that Obama's healthcare reform bill is unlikely to have enough support in the House to pass without changes.
"I don't see the votes for it," Pelosi told reporters. She said Democratic congressional leaders were "not in a big rush" to determine their next move on healthcare but remained determined to pass a bill this year.
On Capitol Hill, Scott Brown was already being spoken of as a potential Republican presidential candidate, though he is also being eyed warily by rightwing colleagues concerned that he may prove too liberal. His support of abortion rights and his vote in favour of Massachusetts' own compulsory health care insurance, even though he campaigned against similar national policies, has some on the right watching him carefully.
He is being greeted among some Republicans as a welcome alternative to the party's more extreme elements. Brown ran a clever campaign that drew in independent voters and avoided party infighting.
The Republican leadership has sought to quieten the most vocally conservative wing of the party, which often drives away younger voters and independents, particularly outside of the south.
In a sign of the Republican party's difficulties in finding credible leadership, David Gergen, who served as Ronald Reagan's communications director, has suggested on CNN that Brown could make a presidential run alongside Sarah Palin.
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/09pdf/08-205.pdf
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