Supreme Court Declines to Review Citizens United

Montana’s ban on corporate political spending has been overturned. In a 5-4 split, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision, which held that corporations and unions were entitled to the same free-speech protections as citizens. The court released a one-page opinion that closed the door on possible oral arguments in American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock. Alex Roarty of The National Journal describes the failed case:

"The current case, American Tradition Partnership v. Bullock, stemmed from a century-old Montana law that prohibits corporations from spending money on political campaigns. The effort, joined by more than 20 states, stipulated that states should be allowed to carve out their own rules to regulate political fundraising and spending, an argument backed by the Montana Supreme Court when it ruled in favor of the state law last year."

Senate Minority Leader Mitchell McConnell declared that the Supreme Court’s decision was “another important victory for freedom of speech.”