Supreme Court Ruling Restores First Amendment Rights to Americans

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today applauded the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn federal campaign finance restrictions to free speech of corporations.  Specifically, the law (passed in the 107th Congress) limited how much money corporations, nonprofit organizations and unions can spend on television ads that support or oppose a named federal candidate 30 days prior to a primary election and 60 days prior to a general election. 

Ranking Member Smith: “Today’s Supreme Court decision restores to Americans the right to voice their opinions during an election without limitation. The Court rightly upheld the First Amendment right of every American—regardless of whether that right is exercised by an individual or a group of individuals. 

“As the Court stated, political speech is ‘indispensable to decision-making in democracy,’ regardless of whether the speech comes from an individual or a corporation.  That’s why Republicans opposed the restrictions to free speech when they passed in the 107th Congress.  

“Free speech is free regardless of whether it is exercised by one person or 100.  I am pleased the Court has made that clear for future Congresses that seek to limit the rights of Americans.”