When the Supreme Court is This Wrong, it’s Time to Overrule Them Posted on June 2, 2015 (October 1, 2018) Free Speech For People co-founder and “Corporations Are Not People” author, Jeff Clements joined presidential historian and Pulitzer prize-winning author, Doris Kearns Goodwin to assess the historical implications of the Court’s 2010 ruling. Of Citizens United, Clements and Kearns Goodwin write, “It is time for Americans of all political viewpoints to come together to win the 28th amendment—and to renew U.S. democracy again.” Read More
Is Hobby Lobby a Tool for Limiting Corporate Constitutional Rights? Posted on June 1, 2015 (June 1, 2015) Jennifer Taub, Vermont Law School professor and author, recently published an article exploring how the Supreme Court further expanded corporate personhood in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. Taub’s article offers an alternative to the current reading, by suggesting Hobby Lobby might provide a tool to limit “previously recognized corporate constitutional rights.”Read More
Actress Debra Winger Joins Congressman Jim McGovern In Cambridge Calling For A 28th Amendment To Reclaim Democracy Posted on May 28, 2015 (May 28, 2015) (From left to right: Jeff Clements, FSFP’s Co-Founder and Board Chair; John Bonifaz, FSFP’s Co-Founder and President; Debra Winger; and Congressman Jim McGovern) Last night, Free Speech For People held an event in Cambridge, Massachusetts with the acclaimed actress Debra Winger and Congressman Jim McGovern, a leader in the US Congress for the call forRead More
Federal Appeals Court Sends Montana’s Contribution Limits Back To Lower Court Posted on May 27, 2015 (June 15, 2016) On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sent a challenge to Montana’s campaign contribution limits back to a federal trial court for another look. This could be good news or bad news; it’s too soon to tell.Read More
FSFP And Partners File Joint Brief In US Court of Appeals For The Ninth Circuit Defending Seattle Wage Law Posted on May 22, 2015 (June 27, 2016) Seattle’s living wage law should be upheld against claims by the International Franchise Association and other industry trade groups that it violates alleged rights of corporations under the U.S. Constitution, Free Speech For People, Courage Campaign, Equal Justice Society, and Demos argue in an amicus brief filed today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Read More
“How The Money Primary Is Undermining Voting Rights” via The Nation Posted on May 22, 2015 (May 22, 2015) A new post on The Nation takes on today’s money primary, and explains how the vast majority of Americans are being denied the value of their vote. The author, Ari Berman provides analysis that parallels the poll tax denying African-Americans the right to vote, to how the influence of the mega-rich shuts out the voices of everyday Americans. Read More
In Williams-Yulee, SCOTUS Rules In Defense Of Florida Ban On Judges Seeking Campaign Cash Posted on May 19, 2015 (June 15, 2016) The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in defense of the Florida State bar, upholding state laws that prohibit elected judges from personally soliciting donations to support their campaigns.Read More
For Real Democracy, Money Must Not Prevail: John Bonifaz Co-Authors Op-Ed On Money In Politics In Arkansas Posted on May 18, 2015 (May 20, 2015) Together, the people of Arkansas are banding together in support of a ballot initiative calling for a 28th amendment to end the big money dominance of our democracy. John Bonifaz co-authors an op-ed in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on the issue of money in politics. Read More
Free Speech For People Welcomes New Summer Law Clerks & Intern Posted on May 18, 2015 (June 22, 2015) Free Speech For People is pleased to announce our new 2015 Summer Law Clerks. We welcome these scholars to our Legal Advocacy Program and we look forward working with them in the coming months. Read More
Hey Chevron, Oil and Democracy Don’t Mix Posted on May 18, 2015 (November 29, 2018) In 2014, Chevron dumped more than $3 million into municipal elections in a town of 107,000 in an attempt to select pro-industry candidates to the City Council and mayor’s office. Chevron’s efforts to “buy Richmond’s election” caught national media attention, while grassroots organizations quickly mobilized to counteract the spending, but there’s more to this story than just trying toRead More