Marriage Equality and Corporate Litigation Posted on June 25, 2015 (October 1, 2018) In a new post on The Hill, Legal Director Ron Fein and summer legal intern Danny Gifford explain how developing corporate legal strategy is hijacking the hard-won precedent protecting the LGBTQ community. Read More
130 Members of Congress Deliver Letter Calling on President to Require Transparency in Political Spending Posted on June 23, 2015 (October 1, 2018) Today, members of the House and Senate sent letters to President Obama, calling for an executive order that would require federal contractors disclose their political spending. The letter comes after months of growing nationwide support from concerned citizens calling on their representatives to support this initiative. In April, our allies and partners rallied outside the White House to deliver more than half a million petition signatures calling on President Obama to issue an executive order.Read More
Free Speech For People Files Amicus Brief Before U.S. Court of Appeals In Lair v. Motl Posted on June 22, 2015 (July 25, 2016) Free Speech for People has filed an amicus brief before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit supporting Montana’s request that a challenge to Montana’s campaign contribution limits for state elections be reheard before a larger group of judges. On May 26, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit overturned a previous panel’s 2003 decision upholding the limits, basing their ruling on a perceived conflict with the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Our brief argues that the panel misread Citizens United, invented a conflict where none exists, and thus acted outside its authority by overruling the earlier panel decision. We were joined in this brief by Board Member James Nelson (a retired Justice of the Montana Supreme Court), the Montana-based American Independent Business Alliance, and the American Sustainable Business Council.Read More
Free Speech For People to Hire Development Director Posted on June 18, 2015 (June 18, 2015) Free Speech For People seeks to hire a Development Director to lead our fundraising work across the country. The Development Director will have significant experience in prior development work, including outreach to major individual donors and foundations, long-term development planning, grants management, and event planning. Read More
John Bonifaz Discusses How Big Money is Undermining Voting Rights on The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann Posted on June 16, 2015 (November 29, 2018) On Monday, June 15, John Bonifaz joined Thom Hartmann in the studio to discuss how the influence of big money in our democracy is undermining voting rights. Read More
The Corporate Takeover of the First Amendment: Eyes on the Bay Area Posted on June 13, 2015 (October 1, 2018) Ellen P. Goodman, Professor of Law at Rutgers School of Law and Free Speech For People Legal Advocacy Committee Member, writes on the recent corporate takeover of the First Amendment in the San Francisco Bay Area. Read More
Arkansas Approves Ballot Initiative to Let Voters Decide on Citizens United Posted on June 11, 2015 (June 11, 2015) A coalition of public interest groups today celebrated State Attorney General Leslie Rutledge’s approval of language for a ballot measure that would allow Arkansas voters to limit the influence of money in state elections.Read More
Why Personhood Matters: Professor Tamara Piety to Truthout Posted on June 10, 2015 (November 29, 2018) Professor Tamara Piety, whom we are honored to have on our Legal Advisory Committee at Free Speech For People, tells it like it is in this must-read Truthout piece on why corporate personhood matters. Read More
Cracking Down on Corrupt Campaign Cash: Ron Fein to The Blaze Posted on June 4, 2015 (October 1, 2018) Free Speech For People Legal Director, Ron Fein explains to The Blaze why Hillary Clinton’s donor problem shows a need for lasting campaign finance reform. Fein identifies the big money system as the root problem facing Hillary’s campaign, and nearly all other candidates running for public office.Read More
Doris Kearns Goodwin To The Ed Show: History On Our Side to Overturn Citizens United Posted on June 2, 2015 (November 29, 2018) Democracy Amendments “People say that amending the constitution is ‘too hard’, but history suggests otherwise,” explained Doris Kearns Goodwin on The Ed Show on May 29th. When asked about the 2010 SCOTUS ruling, Kearns Goodwin explained that a 28th Amendment is viable and possible solution to overturn Citizens United.Read More