Money in Politics and the ‘Real’ Issues We Face Posted on September 12, 2014 (September 26, 2014) Democracy Amendments Marge Baker, Executive Vice President for Policy and Program, People For the American Way & People For the American Way Foundation is featured today on The Huffington Post speaking of the ‘real’ issues we face following this week’s Senate vote. Read More
Free Speech For People Statement on the Senate Vote Posted on September 11, 2014 (March 31, 2015) The United States Senate engaged in an historic vote on the Senate floor on the Democracy For All Amendment (S.J. Res. 19), which would allow for overall campaign spending limits and would end the big money dominance of our elections. Fifty-four US Senators voted in support of the amendment.Read More
The Senate Just Voted to Keep Big Money in Politics. Here Are Three Reasons to Celebrate Anyway. Posted on September 11, 2014 (September 26, 2014) Today, the US Senate voted to keep big money in politics. The Democracy For All Amendment fell short of receiving the 67 votes it necessary to pass, but not all is lost. Fran Korten of YES! Magazine explains, “the fact that the issue reached the Senate floor is a huge victory for the American people, who overwhelmingly say they want something done about corporate influence in elections.” Read More
Democrats Embrace ‘McCutcheon’ Decision Posted on August 29, 2014 (August 4, 2015) Despite ongoing criticism of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in McCutcheon v. FEC, Senate Democrats now embrace a big-money fundraising tool, made possible by the court’s decision. The new “jumbo” fundraising committee of choice for Democrats is the Grassroots Victory Project 2014, and it’s their first major entry into the realm of massive campaign contributions.Read More
Free Speech For People has filed an amicus brief in New York Republican State Committee v. SEC Posted on August 29, 2014 (April 23, 2015) Free Speech For People has filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in support of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s anti-“pay-to-play” rule for investment advisers, which prevents investment advisers from receiving management fees from public funds when they’ve given political contributions to the elected officials who influence theRead More
A Look at 2014 Election Spending: Nine Toss-Up Senate Races Posted on August 20, 2014 (August 20, 2014) Control of the US Senate is at play in the 2014 election, which means tight races and tremendous spending from outside groups. Outside spending in the top nine Senate races in 2014 is almost equal to spending in all 37 races in 2010. Half of the independent spending in the top nine races comes fromRead More
Why the US Chamber of Commerce is Wrong on Citizens United Posted on August 20, 2014 (August 20, 2014) (Photo:Kaeun Yu/ Talk Radio News) Read the latest op-ed from Jeffrey Clements, author and co-founder of Free Speech For People. The op-ed, published August 15,2014 to TruthOut begins: “On July 12, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a 28th Amendment that would overturn Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and once again allow the states andRead More
How a Republican Feels About Money in Politics Posted on August 20, 2014 (August 20, 2014) We spoke with an UNH Law Student about his thoughts regarding big money in politics and Citizens United. Watch his response in our latest video, How A Republican Feels About Money In Politics. Last year, Free Speech For People released a report highlighting more than 100 Republican officials who support a constitutional amendment to overturnRead More
Make Your Movement Posted on August 20, 2014 (August 20, 2014) When Jessica Sharp of Maryland heard the Supreme Court ruling on Citizens United, she refused to accept her daughter would grow up in an America where the voices of everyday people no longer count. She went online to freespeechforpeople.org and was motivated to take action on her own to help restore democracy to theRead More
New Edition of “Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy From Big Money And Global Corporations” Posted on August 20, 2014 (August 20, 2014) Democracy Amendments The new, updated edition of “Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy From Big Money And Global Corporations” is available now for purchase. Free Speech For People co-founder, Jeff Clements authored the book as a resource for everyone to join in on the historic work to re-engage with self-government and to reclaim democracy from big moneyRead More