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If you think we need more money influencing politics in America, then today could be a great day for you.

The Supreme Court is hearing arguments this morning in
McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (FEC),  a case challenging the overall limits an individual can donate to political action committees, candidates and parties in a two-year federal election cycle.

Under current law, a person can give up to $46,200 for federal candidates and $70,800 for parties and independent committees during the election cycle. With the support of the Republican National Committee, Shaun McCutcheon, a wealthy conservative donor from Alabama, is challenging the limits, arguing that they’re “unsupported by any cognizable government interest.”

The outcome is considered critical to the future of campaign finance, with many calling it Citizens United 2.0, referring to the 2010 Supreme Court ruling in
Citizen United v. FEC  allowing corporations to give political candidates unlimited funds.

A “bad sequel”

In a phone call yesterday the advocacy group Common Cause called the case a “bad sequel” to
Citizens United, which paved the way for the most expensive election in history and a flood of negative ads (those of you in swing states will remember how miserable watching TV was last fall).