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
Free Speech For People and Clean Elections Minnesota File Amicus Brief to Protect Minnesota’s Ban on Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on December 5, 2023 Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People and the Minnesota law firm, Lockridge Grindal Nauen, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, filed an amicus brief on Monday, December 4 in federal court in opposition to the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce’s motion for preliminary injunction. The Chamber seeks to block a provision of Minnesota’s landmark democracy bill that wouldRead More
To Help Protect The Democracy For The People Act, Free Speech For People Files Motion To Intervene Posted on August 25, 2023 (September 6, 2023) Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, defends against challenge to law banning political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. ST. PAUL, MN (August 25, 2023) – Free Speech For People, on behalf of Clean Elections Minnesota, today filed court papers to intervene in a corporate lobby’s lawsuit seeking to block enforcement of Minnesota’sRead More
New CAP Report Covers Nationwide Momentum to Ban Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on June 28, 2023 Challenging Foreign Influence Our democracy is meant to serve the American people, not foreign interests. As the Center for American Progress (CAP) states in a report published this week, foreign investors now own a staggering 40 percent of U.S. corporate stock. Ninety-eight percent of S&P 500 companies are at least 5 percent foreign-owned. The ability of these investorsRead More
Minnesota becomes first state in the nation to pass legislation prohibiting foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in elections Posted on April 27, 2023 Challenging Foreign Influence The Minnesota Senate passed the Democracy for the People Act on Wednesday, which includes a provision that prohibits foreign-influenced corporate spending in state and local elections. The bill now moves to the Governor who has pledged to sign it into law. MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 26, 2023) – The Minnesota Senate voted today to pass majorRead More
In Bid to Be First-in-the-Nation, Minnesota House Votes to Bar Multinational Corporations from Interfering in State Elections Posted on April 14, 2023 Challenging Foreign Influence The Minnesota House of Representatives passed the Democracy for the People Act on Thursday, which includes a provision that will effectively ban foreign-influenced corporate spending in state and local elections. The bill now moves to the state senate. MINNEAPOLIS, MN (April 12, 2023) – The Minnesota House of Representatives voted today to pass a landmarkRead More
Voting Rights Groups Will Challenge Massachusetts Attorney General’s Rejection of Ballot Initiative Petition to End Super PACs Posted on September 9, 2022 Challenging Foreign Influence The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has rejected a ballot initiative petition submitted by two nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations, Equal Citizens (equalcitizens.us) and Free Speech For People (freespeechforpeople.org) that would end super PACs in Massachusetts state and local elections by limiting contributions to them to $5,000 per year. In rejecting the initiative, the Attorney General’s office adoptedRead More