Hawaii State Senate Passes Bill Barring Multinational Corporations from Spending Money to Influence Local and State Elections Posted on March 5, 2024 Challenging Foreign Influence If passed in the House and signed into law, Hawaii would be the second state following Minnesota to ban multinational corporate money in elections. Honolulu, Hawaii (March 5, 2024) – The Hawaii State Senate today passed unanimously and with bipartisan support SB3243, a bill prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence local and stateRead More
Free Speech For People’s Statement on Preliminary Injunction Ruling in Case Re Maine’s Ban on Foreign Government Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on March 1, 2024 (March 1, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence On Thursday, the federal district court in Maine granted a group of corporate plaintiffs’ motions to temporarily block a historic ballot measure prohibiting foreign government-influenced corporations from unlimited spending in Maine state and local elections. Thursday’s ruling, which is only temporary, will stop this important protection from going into effect while a full legal challengeRead More
Free Speech For People’s Statement on Preliminary Injunction Ruling in Case Re Maine’s Ban on Foreign Government Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on March 1, 2024 Challenging Foreign Influence On Thursday, the federal district court in Maine granted a group of corporate plaintiffs’ motions to temporarily block a historic ballot measure prohibiting foreign government-influenced corporations from unlimited spending in Maine state and local elections. Thursday’s ruling, which is only temporary, will stop this important protection from going into effect while a full legal challengeRead More
USA TODAY: Hawaii Advances Bill to Bar Multinational Corporations from Spending Money to Influence Elections Posted on February 26, 2024 Challenging Foreign Influence The USA Today reports that Hawaii is advancing new legislation (SB3243) to protect state and local elections from foreign-influenced corporations: State Senator Chris Lee, the bill’s sponsor, says the bill is “basically a mechanism to ensure that foreign influence doesn’t penetrate our elections in Hawaii.” “We have a lot of foreign activity in Hawaii beingRead More
Over $67 Million Spent To Influence Elections, New OpenSecrets Report Highlights the Role of Foreign-Influenced Corporations’ Spending in Washington State Elections Posted on January 23, 2024 (January 24, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence State and National Advocates Urge the Washington Legislature to Take Action to Pass HB 1885 and Defend Democracy SEATTLE, WA (January 23, 2024) – Open Secrets, a national research and government transparency group, released a new case study today of state-level political expenditures by foreign-influenced corporations. Of the six states detailed in the report, Washington StateRead More
Free Speech For People Files Amicus Brief to Protect Maine’s Ban on Foreign Government Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on January 12, 2024 (January 12, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People, joined by Peter J. Brann of the Maine law firm Brann & Isaacson, filed an amicus brief today in defense of Maine’s new law prohibiting foreign government influence in state and local elections. In November 2023, Maine voters passed by a resounding margin (86%) a ballot measure prohibiting foreign government-influenced corporationsRead More
New York State Senate Cracks Down on Multinational Corporations Interfering in State Elections, Passes Democracy Preservation Act Posted on January 10, 2024 Challenging Foreign Influence If passed in the Assembly and signed into law, New York would be the second state to ban multinational corporate money in elections. ALBANY, NY (January 9, 2024) – On January 8th, the New York State Senate passed, with bipartisan support, the Democracy Preservation Act (S371), a bill designed to end the influence of foreignRead More
San Jose bars multinational corporations from spending money to influence city elections Posted on January 9, 2024 (January 11, 2024) Challenging Foreign Influence Following Minnesota and Seattle, the San Jose City Council passed a landmark bill on Tuesday that bans foreign corporate spending in city elections. SAN JOSE, CA (January 9, 2024) – Today, the San Jose City Council approved a landmark campaign finance law that will combat the influence of foreign corporate spending in city elections. TheRead More
Free Speech For People’s Statement on Preliminary Injunction Ruling in Case Re Minnesota Law Prohibiting Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on December 20, 2023 Challenging Foreign Influence Today, the Minnesota federal district court granted the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s motion to temporarily block a groundbreaking 2023 law that prevents foreign-influenced corporate spending in Minnesota elections. The ruling, which is only temporary, will stop this important law from going into effect while the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s legal challenge is pending in court,Read More
In unanimous vote, San Jose bars multinational corporations from spending money to influence city elections Posted on December 13, 2023 (December 13, 2023) Challenging Foreign Influence Following Minnesota and Seattle, the San Jose City Council passed a landmark bill on Tuesday that bans foreign corporate spending in city elections. SAN JOSE, CA (December 13, 2023) – The San Jose City Council unanimously voted Tuesday night in favor of a landmark campaign finance law that will combat the influence of foreign corporateRead More