LANSING -- "This is the decision by the United States Supreme Court," Bob LaBrant says, holding up a booklet some 200 pages deep.

The senior vice president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce scored a major political victory Thursday. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that corporations and unions can now directly buy campaign ads for specific candidates -- and they can spend all they want.

"I think the ruling yesterday permits corporations and labor organizations free speech rights," said LaBrant, who's been fighting for that decision for more than 20 years.

Michigan State AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney isn't quite so fond of the court's ruling.

"[Corporations] can now buy every single election in America," he said Friday from his office in downtown Lansing.

Gaffney claims the decision allows big business to simply outspend individuals and unions.

"Do you know of a union in America that makes a billion dollars in 90 days?" he asked incredulously. "Absolute, complete difference."

The key question for Michiganders, of course, is what impact the Supreme Court's ruling will have on the biggest upcoming election here: The race for governor.

"I don't think it's as big a deal as some people, on both sides, are claiming it is," said Bill Ballenger, editor of "Inside Michigan Politics."

He noted that corporations had already used loopholes to get their ads on the air -- generally through political action committees, or PAC's.

"Make no mistake about it -- they were using this money through PAC's even before this decision," Ballenger said.

But Gaffney isn't convinced the decision will go unnoticed.

"The amount of money that could be added to the political system is astounding," Gaffney said.

As for the Michigan Chamber of Commerce -- officials there say they'll make an endorsement for governor later this year. And they won't be shy about ponying up the dough to get him or her elected.