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
VIDEO: The Ongoing Campaign to End Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in U.S. Elections. Posted on May 23, 2022 (May 23, 2022) Challenging Foreign Influence The campaign to end foreign-influenced corporate spending in our elections continues to grow across the country! Our new video highlights the ongoing fight to advance our model legislation to prohibit foreign-influenced corporate spending in federal, state and local elections. The video features Congressman Jamie Raskin and leaders in New York State, Seattle, and California whoRead More
Bill to Protect the Integrity of California Elections from Foreign Influence Passes Out of Elections Committee Posted on April 29, 2022 (April 29, 2022) Challenging Foreign Influence Yesterday, AB 1819, the “Stop Foreign Influence in California Elections Act” passed out of the Elections Committee and is now headed to the Appropriations Committee. The bill prohibits foreign-influenced corporations from contributing to candidates, parties, or committees (including super PACs) in order to protect the integrity of California’s self-governance. We are honored to support AssemblymemberRead More
DEMOCRACY REFORM ORGANIZATIONS URGE NEW YORK ASSEMBLY TO PASS THE DEMOCRACY PRESERVATION ACT Posted on April 26, 2022 (April 26, 2022) Challenging Foreign Influence The Democracy Preservation Act would be the first statewide ban on foreign-influenced corporate spending in elections ALBANY, NY – A coalition of more than 25 democracy reform advocacy organizations sent a letter to the New York State Assembly today, urging Assemblymembers to pass the Democracy Preservation Act (A.7458a) to end foreign-influenced corporate spending in stateRead More
San Jose votes to prohibit foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in city elections Posted on March 22, 2022 (March 23, 2022) Challenging Foreign Influence The San Jose City Council voted to pass the landmark bill on Tuesday that will effectively ban foreign corporate spending in city elections. SAN JOSE, CA (March 22, 2022) – The San Jose City Council voted today in favor of a landmark campaign finance law that will combat the influence of foreign corporate spending inRead More
FSFP Senior Counsel Courtney Hostetler and Michele Sutter Co-Author New Oped on Bill Seeking to Ban Multinational Corporations From Spending Money in California Elections. Posted on March 18, 2022 Challenging Foreign Influence Cal Matters recently published a new op-ed by FSFP Senior Counsel Courtney Hostetler and Money Out Voters In Co-Founder Michele Sutter on a new bill that seeks to ban multinational corporations from spending money in California elections. The following is an excerpt from the new piece: The Citizens United ruling created a loophole to foreignRead More
Government Watchdogs Sue FEC for Deadlock and Failure to Investigate Complaint About Coordination between the Russian Government and Former President Trump’s 2016 Campaign Posted on March 10, 2022 Challenging Foreign Influence The Federal Election Commission’s 3-3 deadlock on a prior complaint from December 2016 effectively shields the Russian government and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign from accountability for violating federal election laws. WASHINGTON, D.C. (Mar. 10, 2022) – Nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations Free Speech For People and Campaign for Accountability today filed a federal lawsuit against the FederalRead More
In a Split Decision, the FEC Overrules Career Staff and Refuses to Investigate Coordination between the Russian Government and Donald Trump’s 2016 Campaign Posted on March 3, 2022 (March 3, 2022) Challenging Foreign Influence WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Federal Election Commission (FEC) has released records revealing how partisan deadlock blocked its investigation into potential coordination between former President Trump’s 2016 election campaign and the Russian Federation. The FEC’s nonpartisan professional career staff in its General Counsel’s office recommended that the FEC find “reason to believe” that the Trump campaignRead More