While the Supreme Court's decision in favor of gun rights is clearly the top story from the high court today, another decision is likely to quickly affect future California political campaigns.
The court struck down the so-called "millionaire's amendment" in federal campaign finance law, which has allowed candidates who are running against opponents spending more than $350,000 of their own money to collect larger contributions.
The most recent California race triggering the amendment was the GOP primary between Doug Ose and Tom McClintock. Ose spent millions of his own money, allowing McClintock to raise money three times above the usual $2,300 limit.
In a 5-4 vote, the court ruled that violates the First Amendment.
"We have never upheld the constitutionality of a law that imposes different contribution limits for candidates who are competing against each other," Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the majority opinion.
The law applies only to congressional candidates, not those running for the state Legislature.
The court did leave open the possibility that Congress could alter the law.
Alito wrote that if the higher limits applied to all candidates, the suit on which the court ruled "would plainly fail."
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