On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling that would now allow individuals or entities to donate as much private money as they can to political candidates in one election season. On the other hand, people or groups who wish to donate must ensure that they do not go over the $5,200 per candidate limit during a two-year election cycle. Prior to the ruling, an individual could donate up to $123,200 per cycle, CNN said.
The decision was for a case filed by Alabama electrical engineering company owner Shaun McCutcheon, who with the backing of the Republican National Committee, argued that voters have the constitutional right to donate more than the cap to as many political candidates that he wanted as long as he does not exceed the $5,200 per candidate limit.
Chief Justice John Roberts said in a written ruling on behalf of the conservative minority: "We conclude that the aggregate limits on contributions do not further the only governmental interest this court accepted as legitimate (in a 1976 ruling). They instead intrude without justification on a citizen's ability to express the most fundamental First Amendment activities."
CNN said that the ruling has loosened up campaign finance laws in the US, which occurred with the Citizens United decision of the high court in 2010 that had eased campaign spending by third parties.
On the other hand, Justice Stephen Breyer, who opposed to the decision, said that the opinion of the Supreme Court majority could create huge loopholes in the law and will essential crumble what remains of the campaign finance reform.
Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has been furthering the campaign finance reform, said, "I am concerned that today's ruling may represent the latest step in an effort by a majority of the court to dismantle entirely the longstanding structure of campaign finance law erected to limit the undue influence of special interests on American politics."
Democrat Senator Charles Schumer of New York cautions the further erosion on the legal limits imposed on curbing limits on special interest influence in elections. He said, "This in itself is a small step, but another step on the road to ruination. It could lead to interpretations of the law that would result in the end of any fairness in the political system as we know it."
