Citizens united

WASHINGTON - A bitterly divided Supreme Court vastly increased the power of big business and unions to influence government decisions by freeing them to spend their millions directly to sway elections for president and Congress.

Reaction to the Supreme Court decision Thursday that corporations may spend freely to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress.

WASHINGTON - Bitterly divided, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday that big business can spend its millions to directly support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, a decision that sharply reverses a century-long trend to limit the political influence of corporations and labor unions.