Court unlikely to grant 1st Amendment rights to union political activity

By STEPHEN HENDERSON

McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court appeared ready Wednesday to reject claims that the First Amendment prohibits Washington state from forcing unions to get permission before spending some of the money they collect on political causes.

Most oral arguments at the high court end ambiguously, with the justices leaving small hints about how they'll resolve tricky legal dilemmas.

But once in a while, there are arguments where the only lingering question seems to be who'll write an opinion that reaches an obvious conclusion.