The United States Supreme Court decision which President Obama attacked during his State of the Union speech has changed the political landscape in this country.
Amidst the spin by those who say this will remove the shackles from big business and labor, and those who say this is a victory for free speech, there is one group that is overlooked who gained in this decision – small business.
Here’s what changed and didn’t change as a result of this decision.
Corporate contributions to federal candidates are still illegal. Corporate contributions to political party organizations are still governed by state law.
The Supreme Court decision lifted the ban on businesses being able to spend money directly on the support or defeat of individual candidates by name. These actions have to be ‘independent expenditures” that cannot be coordinated with the campaign, however the Court does not define what the threshold is for “independent” from the campaign.
Businesses could end up being the big winners in this decision because the large corporations and labor unions had already found ways around the existing law that was overturned.
Here are some initial key things to know for small business, the mom and pop stores, the people who aren’t the big box stores, who don’t have lobbyists working the halls of Sacramento or Washington, D.C.
First, the practical application of this ruling applies to more than expensive television and radio ads, it allows for a business to use other political tactics like the internet, social networking, hand-outs in their stores, direct mail in their circulars, and survey research to advocate the election or defeat of a candidate. Because a company can spend corporate money directly on the election or defeat of a candidate, the company’s message can be direct and pointed.
Simple practical applications could include a dry cleaner using their laundry bags to send a message, a small store including a flyer in their bags, and another store allowing one candidate to set up a voter registration booth, allow a candidate or elected official to hold a town hall meeting in their establishment, post a pop-up ad on their website in support of or in opposition to a candidate, or opening their stores and having a fundraiser for a candidate.
That’s just a small taste of what can be done. The opportunities are only restricted by resources, imagination and will of the business to commit to being a player in the political process.
The Supreme Court decision was a victory for free speech. What business does with this new found freedom is up to each individual business. The ball is in their Court thanks to the Supremes.