Congress Must Act in Wake of Court Ruling on Campaign Finance

• By Norman Ornstein
• Roll Call Contributing Writer
• Feb. 3, 2010, Midnight

The more we learn about the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, the more ominous it becomes. Of course, the reality of justices reaching out and plucking a broad case from nowhere to overturn decades of practice, law and precedent is itself chilling, setting itself a new precedent for activism. But Justice Anthony Kennedy’s reasoning in Citizens United creates even more potential for chaos and disaster. The idea that corporations are the equivalent of people leads directly to the next step: direct contributions to candidates from corporate coffers, not just unlimited independent expenditures to influence campaigns.