Washington (CNN) The US Supreme Court on Monday refused to take up a case that would have given businesses the right to contribute money directly to candidates. The high court, in an unsigned order, declined to consider a challenge to a Massachusetts law barring for-profit corporations from donating to political campaigns. That ruling, and a separate appellate court decision later that year, helped give rise to free-spending super PACs. The state, the companies argued, imposes tougher restrictions on for-profit companies than it does on nonprofit corporations and unions. Last year, Massachusetts' highest court upheld the state's ban on corporate contributions to political campaigns, saying it serves to prevent corruption.

Source: CNN May 20, 2019 15:56 UTC