Asher Hildebrand of Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy says the low figures point to the need to rebuild trust in government as a necessary means of collective action.
The case had potentially trillions of dollars in tax consequences for the federal budget, and the court's decision could have severely limited congressional options in enacting tax policy.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas belatedly acknowledged more travel paid by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, while several colleagues reported six-figure payments as part of book deals.