Category: Challenging Foreign Influence

Free Speech For People and Clean Elections Minnesota File Amicus Brief to Uphold Minnesota’s Ban on Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Elections

On August 16, Free Speech For People and the Minnesota law firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, filed an amicus brief in federal court in support of the State of Minnesota and its landmark law prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in state elections. The law, which protects Minnesota voters and
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Free Speech For People and Center For American Progress Release Video on The Get Foreign Money Out of US Elections Act Featuring Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse are featured in a new video about their new bill to end foreign-influenced corporate spending in US elections.  The Get Foreign Money Out of Politics Act was reintroduced in July with 22 cosponsors in the House (H.R. 8988) and 4 cosponsors in the Senate (S.4666). The bill would
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MUST READ: Maine Should Be Able to Protect Self-Government From Foreign Influence

A new op-ed in the Portland Press Herald by Free Speech For People’s Legal Director Courtney Hostetler and Counsel Amira Mattar makes the case that Maine voters have the right to prohibit foreign government-influenced corporations from spending money to try and sway Maine’s elections. They write: The ballot measure passed in Maine effectively puts an
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New Polling Shows Voters Overwhelmingly Support Ban on Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in US Elections

A new nationwide poll from Data for Progress shows strong support among voters for banning foreign-influenced corporate money in our elections.  82% of voters agree that there should be new limits on U.S. corporations spending money in our elections if the corporations have any foreign ownership.  72% of voters support a proposal to ban companies
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Members of Congress Move to Bar Foreign-Influenced Corporations From Spending Money to Influence US Elections

The Get Foreign Money out of US Elections Act aims to close a loophole that allows foreign investors to influence US elections.  WASHINGTON (July 10, 2024)—Congressman Jamie Raskin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse re-introduced the Get Foreign Money Out of Politics Act today. Rep. Raskin filed H.R.8988 with 22 cosponsors. And Sen. Whitehouse filed S.4666 with 4 cosponsors. The
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The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Bars Foreign-Influenced Corporations From Interfering in State Elections

HARRISBURG, PA (July 1, 2024)—Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB2433 with bipartisan support. The bill bans foreign-influenced corporations from spending money to influence state and local elections. If passed by the State Senate and signed into law, this bill would close a significant loophole to preserve American self-government and to strengthen democracy in
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Free Speech For People’s Statement on Decision in El Koussa v. Campbell

Notice: This statement has been updated as of June 28, 2024   On June 27, 2024, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts issued a ruling in El Koussa v. Campbell, finding that five petitions seeking to exclude app-based drivers in Massachusetts from state benefits and protections comply with Article 48 of the Massachusetts Constitution, which governs
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Free Speech For People files amicus brief supporting First Circuit appeal of enjoined Maine law targeting foreign government-influenced corporate political spending

Last week, Free Speech For People filed an amicus brief supporting the state of Maine’s appeal of a district court decision that enjoined a law limiting foreign government influence in state and local elections. Despite being passed by a historic margin of voters within the state, the District Court of Maine, at the behest of
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Must Read: Ballot petition on app-based deliveries masks proponents’ true intent

Free Speech For People’s Legal Director Courtney Hostetler and Counsel Amira Mattar published an opinion essay in Mass Live this week arguing that foreign-influenced corporations should not be allowed to proceed with a deceptive ballot petition campaign to exempt app-based drivers in MA from state protections. They write: The ballot petition process ensures that the
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The FEC Attempts to Evade Judicial Review, Government Watchdogs Call for Oral Arguments on Alleged Illegal Coordination between the Trump Campaign and Russia

Plaintiffs’ file reply in support of a motion for oral arguments in Free Speech For People v. Federal Election Commission WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 10, 2024) – Nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations Free Speech For People and Campaign for Accountability have filed a reply in support of their motion for oral argument. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) had
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