McCutcheon v. FEC: Supreme Court Strikes Down Overall Limits on Campaign Contributions

Wow. Another blow to leftist hypocrite speech muzzlers.

Headline via Puff Ho.

And at WaPo, "Supreme Court strikes down limits on federal campaign donations":

Here's the SCOTUS McCutcheon ruling striking down aggregate campaign donation limits ==> http://t.co/CeahbeetCA

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) April 2, 2014

Free speech wins again! http://t.co/chgOfgMgku #tcot

— David Bossie (@David_Bossie) April 2, 2014

Looks like Koch-mas came early this year! http://t.co/zB68IT28M8

— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) April 2, 2014

The 5 to 4 decision sparked a sharp dissent from liberal justices, who said the decision reflects a wrong-headed hostility to campaign finance laws that the court’s conservatives showed in Citizens United v. FEC , which allowed corporate spending on elections.

“If Citizens United opened a door,” Justice Stephen G. Breyer said in reading his dissent from the bench, “today’s decision we fear will open a floodgate.”

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote the opinion striking down the aggregate limits of what an individual may spend on candidates and political committees. He noted that the limit on individual contributions to a specific candidate was not affected by the ruling.

“Money in politics may at times seem repugnant to some, but so too does much of what the First Amendment vigorously protects,” Roberts wrote. “If the First Amendment protects flag burning, funeral protests and Nazi parades — despite the profound offense such spectacles cause — it surely protects political campaign speech despite popular opposition.”

Justices Antonin Scalia, Anthony M. Kennedy and Samuel A. Alito Jr. joined Roberts. Justice Clarence Thomas provided the crucial fifth vote for overturning the limits, but said the others should have gone further to strike all contribution limits.

Breyer was joined in dissent by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

The aggregate totals that the court struck down in the case — McCutcheon v. FEC --imposed a $48,600 limit on contributions to candidates during a two-year election cycle, plus $74,600 total on giving to political parties and committees.

The base limits on contributions left unchanged by the ruling allow donations to candidates of $2,600 for both primary and general elections.

The decision provides a financial boost to political parties, which have lost their dominance with the rise of super PACs and other independent political groups that can raise unlimited sums.

I love it! What a fabulous victory for money in politics.

And at Twitchy, "‘Koch-mas came early!’ SCOTUS upholds 1st Amendment, crazy Harry Reid hardest hit."