Supreme Court Takes Up Cases on Corporate Rights Posted on September 29, 2010 (July 1, 2020) Corporate Abuse of Power The New York Times Adam Liptak WASHINGTON — Continuing to explore the limits of corporations’ constitutional rights, the Supreme Court on Tuesday added cases to its docket that will test the scope of companies’ rights to due process and privacy. The new cases follow the court’s decision in January in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which ruled that corporations and unions have a First Amendment right to spend money in candidate elections. Read More
Boston Review-Democracy After Citizens United Posted on September 21, 2010 (July 1, 2020) Democracy Amendments See these essays by Free Speech For People Director, John Bonifaz, FSFP General Counsel, Jeffrey Clements and Congresswoman Donna Edwards in the online forum, "Democracy After Citizens United," hosted by the Boston Review. Restoring the Constitution, by John Bonifaz and Jeffrey Clements A Call to Bold Action, Representative Donna Edwards Read More
Video: Target Ain’t People Posted on September 13, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Corporate Abuse of Power In January, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations can spend unlimited money in our elections. This video was made in response to Target’s decision to give $150,000 to an anti-gay, anti-worker candidate for the Governor of Minnesota. Watch this video on YouTubeRead More
Blagojevich and Legal Bribery Posted on August 18, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Democracy Amendments By SCOTT TUROW Published: August 17, 2010 The New York Times Chicago “With all respect to Wanda Brandstetter, the Constitutional amendment this nation most urgently requires is one that reverses the notion that unrestricted political spending deserves protection as free speech. Without that, who could fault a juror for looking around at contemporary political lifeRead More
Senate Obstruction Takes Down Bill To Promote Campaign Transparency Posted on July 30, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Defending Key Reforms A few days ago, Senate Republicans united to defeat the Disclose Act, critical legislation intended to respond to the Supreme Court’s invalidation in Citizens United v. FEC of the ban on the use of corporate general treasury funds to make independent political expenditures. The House passed the Act in June. But despite the wishes ofRead More
Senator Max Baucus Proposes Constitutional Amendment to Allow Regulation of Campaign Funding Posted on July 28, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Democracy Amendments By David Swanson The DISCLOSE Act, a bill passed by the House that would regulate corporate election spending was blocked in the Senate on Thursday by a filibuster — momentum is building to eliminate that anti-democratic tool. And momentum is building, as well, for reforms of our campaign finance system that go beyond what theRead More
The Next Senator from Target Corporation Posted on July 27, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Corporate Abuse of Power Here’s a type of story that may become so common it’s no longer a story, or those pushing back and working for structural reform may prevail: Target Corp. spending company money on candidates By MARTIGA LOHN (AP) – ST. PAUL, Minn. — Here’s something Target Corp. isn’t advertising in its Sunday circular: The discount retailerRead More
Video: Interview of Congresswoman Donna Edwards Posted on July 26, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Democracy Amendments Photo by spatuletail / Shutterstock.comRead More
Undoing Citizens United: A Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Corporations from Buying Elections Posted on July 24, 2010 (August 18, 2020) Democracy Amendments Photo by spatuletail / Shutterstock.comRead More
New Groups Aim to Spend Big on Election Ads Posted on July 23, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments By SHARON THEIMER, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Two new groups – one Republican-leaning, the other pro-Democratic – seeking to capitalize on a Supreme Court ruling allowing the use of unlimited donations for ads targeting candidates have gotten the go-ahead from election officials. The Federal Election Commission on Thursday approved plans by the conservative Club for Growth and by Democratic activists to collect big contributions for ads on candidates. Both say the committees set up to run the ads will disclose their donors and spending to the FEC in publicly available reports. Read More