John Bonifaz joins Democracy Now to discuss the Supreme Court’s decision on Montana’s Corrupt Practices Act Posted on June 27, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments Read More
Massachusetts legislators calling for Constitutional Amendment to reverse Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision Posted on June 27, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments By Michael Norton and Matt Murphy State House News Service June 23, 2012 BOSTON — Concord Rep. Cory Atkins feels one of her colleagues this election cycle could become the first local victim of the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. To hear Atkins tell it, the court’s January 2010 ruling means there’s nothing stopping corporate interests from swooping in days before the election and dumping large amounts of cash into Super PAC ads targeting a particular representative or senator, who would then be unable to respond proportionately. Read More
U.S. Conference of Mayors adopts resolution on corporate personhood. Posted on June 26, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments At its 80th annual meeting, in mid-June, the U.S. Conference of Mayors voted unanimously, by voice, to: "Establish as a position of the United States Conference of Mayors that corporations should not receive the same legal rights as natural persons do, that money is not speech, and that independent expenditures should be regulated" The resolution can be viewed at: http://usmayors.org/category/resolutions/80th_Conference/metro18.asp Read More
Montana Ruling Could Fuel Campaign to Amend Constitution Posted on June 26, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments By Eliza Newlin CarneyRoll Call June 26, 2012 The Supreme Court’s Monday ruling to strike Montana’s ban on corporate campaign spending opens a new chapter in the political money wars, fueling an improbable but increasingly vocal movement to amend the Constitution. Read More
Supreme Court Strikes Down Montana’s Corrupt Practices Act Posted on June 25, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments Contact: John Bonifaz, 413-253-2700 or 617-529-4611Date: June 25, 2012For release: Immediate STATEMENT OF JOHN BONIFAZEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FREE SPEECH FOR PEOPLE on the US SUPREME COURT’S DECISION STRIKING DOWNMONTANA’S CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT Read More
How Top Law Professors Are Working To Expand Corporations’ Constitutional ‘Rights’ Posted on June 22, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments Alternet Steven Rosenfeld June 18, 2012 Academia’s best and brightest include conservatives who help corporations hide behind the First Amendment to protect profits. Read More
Voter Initiative on Citizens United Will Be on Ballot in Montana this November Posted on June 21, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments Read More
Reading tea leaves: an update for those watching & waiting Posted on June 19, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments The U.S. Supreme Court has yet to issue its procedural decision in the Montana case challenging Citizens United. Here’s a good attempt to interpret where things may be headed, based on the very limited information made public so far, from Brenda Wright’s blog "Policy Shop", published by Demos: Supreme Court Delays Decision On Montana Money In Politics Case Brenda Wright Read More
Sen. John McCain: “corporations are not people” Posted on June 15, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments Senator McCain embraced our view that corporations are not people in an interview with Judy Woodruff on the PBS NewsHour broadcast today. The relevant parts begin at the 7:28 mark, and the key excerpt is transcribed below. (If you see only a blank space immediately below, please either wait a minute or so for the video to load and appear, or try clicking the link to the PBS News Hour below.) Read More
Great L.A. Times Op-Ed by Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock Posted on June 15, 2012 (September 14, 2020) Democracy Amendments OP-ED: Montana — big sky, clean politicsCan the state preserve its limits on corporate money in elections? By Steve BullockJune 15, 2012 It’s too bad American electoral races aren’t as transparent as NASCAR races. Tattooed across NASCAR drivers’ jumpsuits and over every square inch of their cars are the logos of the companies sponsoring the teams, underwriting the costs, paying their salaries. Everyone can see who the drivers represent and who is footing the bill. Read More