Pacific Legal Foundation Blatantly Misrepresents Seattle’s New Campaign Finance Law Posted on January 31, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence The Pacific Legal Foundation recently posted a criticism of bold new Seattle law, part of a larger package known as the Clean Campaigns Act, that bans political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. Unfortunately, the Pacific Legal Foundation has blatantly misrepresented the law. In Seattle, the Pacific Legal Foundation may be best known for its unsuccessful (soRead More
Supreme Court Specialist Jeffrey Fisher to Lead the Supreme Court Brief on the Case that Could End Super PACs Posted on January 30, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Challenging Super PACs Jeffrey Fisher, Professor of Law and Co-Director of the Supreme Court Litigation Clinic at Stanford Law School, has joined the legal team for Lieu v. Federal Election Commission, the case that could end super PACs. Professor Fisher will lead the forthcoming petition for certiorari to be filed with the U.S. Supreme Court this spring. BackgroundRead More
Election Security Experts Highlight Major Flaws In Los Angeles County Voting System Posted on January 26, 2020 (June 18, 2020) Election Protection Free Speech For People and the National Election Defense Coalition recently submitted public comments to California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, regarding the proposed certification of Los Angeles county’s Voting Solutions for All People 2.0 (VSAP) election system. The joint letter addresses the system’s non-compliance with California Voting System Standards. The letter states: We haveRead More
FSFP President Says a Sham Trial is a Threat to our Republic Posted on January 24, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Impeachment Free Speech For People president and co-founder John Bonifaz talked with KPFA (94.1) yesterday regarding the ongoing U.S. Senate impeachment hearings. Following party-line votes to prevent calls for witnesses Wednesday, Bonifaz expressed concern that the trial process itself is being rigged. “I think it’s still very much unclear whether we are going to have aRead More
Justice James Nelson On The Tenth Anniversary of Citizens United Posted on January 21, 2020 Democracy Amendments On January 21, 2010, the Supreme Court of the United States handed down one of its worst and most activist decisions ever. Indeed, in terms of harm caused and the likelihood for future harm, the Court’s decision in Citizens United is, likely, the most pernicious Supreme Court decision ever issued in our nation’s history. ARead More
John Bonifaz Discusses A Full And Fair Impeachment Trial on Democracy Now! Posted on January 17, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Impeachment FSFP President John Bonifaz recently appeared on Democracy Now! to discuss the Senate impeachment trial of Donald J Trump. The trial follows last year’s vote in the House of Representatives to impeach the President on two articles: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. During a discussion with host Amy Goodman, Bonifaz explained the gravityRead More
Free Speech For People Files Brief in Case Demanding Election Security Emails Posted on January 15, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Election Protection Free Speech For People filed a motion for summary judgment in National Election Defense Coalition v. Lawson, a case challenging the Indiana Secretary of State’s refusal to disclose election security-related emails exchanged with the National Association of Secretaries of State. Secretary of State Connie Lawson was the 2017-18 President of the National Association of SecretariesRead More
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Banning Foreign Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on January 14, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence A recent survey conducted by Civis Analytics on behalf of the Center for American Progress Action Fund found strong bipartisan support for banning corporate spending in elections from corporations with significant foreign ownership. Of the 2,633 voters interviewed for the survey, 73 percent said they supported spending limits on U.S. companies with “any” foreign ownership.Read More
FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub Makes the Case In Support of Seattle’s New Landmark Campaign Finance Law Posted on January 14, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub argues in a New York Times opinion piece why Seattle’s new law banning foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in Seattle elections is constitutional and correct. Commissioner Weintraub writes: “Seattle, along with other cities and states, doesn’t need to worry. No court has ever come close to holding that the Federal ElectionRead More
Following Amazon $1.5 Million Campaign to Try to Remake the Seattle City Council, Lawmakers Ban Foreign-Influenced Corporations from Spending in City Elections Posted on January 13, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence The Seattle City Council voted 7-0 to pass landmark bill on Monday, effectively banning foreign corporate spending in city elections. SEATTLE, WA (January 13, 2020) – The Seattle City Council voted today to pass a landmark campaign finance law that combats the influence of foreign corporate spending in city elections. The legislation, introduced by CouncilmemberRead More