Harrabin's Notes: Cash for influence

…BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin looks at how the global climate debate could be affected by a US Supreme Court ruling that lifts a cap how much companies can spend on political advertising.

The chances of a global climate deal this year have taken the second major blow in a week in the US.

In the latest development, the US Supreme Court has ruled that corporations can spend as much money as they like to influence elections.

The decision is likely to unleash a flood of business cash attempting to drown plans for a climate and energy bill in the Senate.

…Already, the US Chambers of Commerce, which says climate legislation threatens profits, is reported to be planning a massive campaign of advertising before the mid-term elections in the autumn.

It has already said it will support candidates who oppose the climate laws. Until now, expenditure on political advertising was limited by a cap imposed in 1990.

Now the conservative majority on the Supreme Court has ruled that corporations must be allowed exactly the same freedom of speech as private citizens – including the right to spend unlimited amounts at elections.

Senators and congressmen need to secure millions of dollars for re-election, and critics say this comes at a serious price, with US coal and oil firms among the major donors.

BBC