The Supreme Court's Gift to the Chamber of Commerce
| Thu Jan. 21, 2010 12:42 PM PST
Green groups are lambasting Thursday's Supreme Court decision striking down limits on corporate election advertising as a handout to dirty energy interests, big business groups, and other foes of environmental regulations.
Cathy Duvall, political director of Sierra Club, warned in a statement that the ruling will unleash a "tidal wave of special interest cash and influence peddling" on the electoral process. The decision, Duvall noted, will give even more power to major lobbying groups, such as the Chamber of Commerce, that regularly oppose environmental regulations. The Chamber's Michigan division was a party to one of the campaign finance cases the Court ruled on today, which could allow the organization to spend similar sums on political advertising as it currently does on lobbying. According to fourth-quarter filings released yesterday, the Chamber spent $71 million on lobbying last quarter, bringing the group's 2009 total to $123 million, more than it has ever spent. By comparison, its political action committee has been spending small change—just $248,381 in 2008 and $235,233 in 2006. The Chamber has pledged to wage its "most aggressive" election fight ever in 2010, and earlier announced it had amassed a $100 million war chest for lobbying and political advocacy this year.
Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, said the decision will "open the floodgates for oil companies like Exxon." He noted that Exxon Mobil's PAC spent just over $811,000 on the 2008 election, but would now be free to pour massive sums into political advertising—"potentially drowning out the voices of the majority of Americans who support investing in clean American energy and reducing harmful carbon pollution."
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Comments
It's their country, you
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 12:48 PM PST.
It's their country, you should be acting grateful. Instead we get typical eco-liberal whines.
(see Santa Clara v. Southern Pacific.)
You can't be f**king
Submitted by Toothsayer (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 3:55 PM PST.
You can't be f**king serious!!!
Go lay down in front of a
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 8:26 PM PST.
Go lay down in front of a moving bus, dipshit.
So? Don't Get Left Behind!
Submitted by MickSteers (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 6:23 PM PST.
Am I the only one who is amazed by how little it really costs to buy political outcomes?
A few hundred thousand here, a few million there, placed in the hands of key politicians can result in billions or trillions in government benefits. Hand-outs, stimulus dollars, regulatory forbearance or favorable contracts are just incredibly cheap. Today, SCOTUS formally declared the nation's legislators open for business.
A new bull market is set to emerge, and this kind of leverage makes Madoff and the banksters look like pikers.
I recommend that all freedom-loving Americans with an ounce of entrepreneurial spirit invest all available resources in the top-drawer lobbying firms which can convert very modest corporate outlays into almost limitless wealth.
The Supreme Court has ruled. Now it's time for the market to speak, and it will. Without the likes of Hill & Knowlton and other K-Street stalwarts in your portfolio you might as well stuff your money in a mattress. Act now - operators are standing by.
Sold down the river
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 8:01 PM PST.
You have been sold down the river. I wonder how much these corporations spent to get this kind of verdict. Those justices have no idea what justice is.
This decision was a prime
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 8:47 PM PST.
This decision was a prime case of judicial activism. But, I guess it's ok when it suits Republicans and those who work to screw over the little guy.
Since when are Corporations a
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 9:22 PM PST.
Since when are Corporations a living breathing human entity? Be ready to be implanted with a tracking device, a probe in your body when boarding a plane, being declared unfit to be human and most of all your rights as a citizen will not exist anymore. Corporations will control the school board, the city council, the states and of course the Senate and the House of Representatives. hello the The United States of Corporate America.
America died a long time ago.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 9:58 PM PST.
America died a long time ago.
America died a long time ago.
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu Jan. 21, 2010 10:04 PM PST.
America died a long time ago.
For those of us who have not
Submitted by John P (not verified) on Fri Jan. 22, 2010 7:03 AM PST.
For those of us who have not entirely given up hope.... WHAT CAN WE DO? Why can we not turn this into a positive backlash against corporatism and cronyism???
THE SELLING OF AMERICA BY THE SUPREME COURT
Submitted by THEBECKERS8 (not verified) on Fri Jan. 22, 2010 9:28 AM PST.
THIS IS A TRAGIC DAY IN AMERICA. THERE IS NO REASON TO VOTE. IF I WASN'T AFRAID THAT I'D GET ARRESTED BY OUR FACIST GOVERNMENT, I WOULDN'T PAY TAXES. THE CORPORATE STATES OF AMERICA....GUESS WHAT PEOPLE : CORPORATIONS DON'T PUT THEIR CHILDREN TO BED AT NIGHT HOPING THAT THE WORLD WILL BE BETTER FOR THEM, THEY DON'T BLEED WHEN CUT. THEY ARE REJOICING NOW, RATHER THAN CRYING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THIS COUNTRY THE WAY I AM.
INVESTIGATE THE MOTHER F**KERS ON THE SUPREME COURT AND IMPEACH THEM FOR DERELICT OF DUTY TO THEIR COUNTRY.
AND BY THE WAY, THIS IS THE ERA OF THE GLOBAL CORPORATION-REPUBLICANS WATCH OUT - THE FOREIGNERS ARE COMING WITH THEIR WALLETS.
supreme court ruling
Submitted by saraswati (not verified) on Fri Jan. 22, 2010 12:57 PM PST.
This is only the tip of the iceberg. This is way Roberts was put in as cj in the first place - to carry out the PNAC. If corporations are entities with personal rights, does that mean that it/they can also be sued and include his/her/its shareholders individually. If so, that would stop investors in their tracts.
Sold to the highest Bidder USA!
Submitted by Sold to the highest Bidder USA! (not verified) on Sat Jan. 23, 2010 6:47 AM PST.
America is dead it has lost its sense of Justice its fairness, now only the Rich count and the poor and the rest do the dirty work, fighting in the middle East so the Rich can get richer and the poor get blown to pieces in Afghanistan.
Thank you Supreme Court American Justice.
Thank you Roberts!
Democracy is now a bribed and corrupt few acting for many?
Democracy is dead is the USA
America is a dirty word to Freedom and Liberty for all!
The rest of the World is sickened and disgusted by the USA
Bow your heads in shame if you Freedom loving Americans are allowing his.
The next President should not be accepted by the rest of the world if this is by how they come to power, by corporate sponsorship, not by the poor Americans vote!
Free to Ignore
Submitted by afgail (not verified) on Tue Jan. 26, 2010 3:33 AM PST.
I would say there is absolutlely no reason to pay your federal income taxes anymore. Thanks to the Supreme Court the federal government will be of the corporations, by the corporations and for the corporations. So they can do it without my support.
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