Abolish Super PACs, Ban Foreign Corporate Money, State Legislators Introduce Two Bills to Protect Election Integrity in Massachusetts Posted on February 9, 2021 (February 9, 2021) Challenging Super PACs BOSTON, MA – State legislators have introduced two bills in the Massachusetts Legislature to abolish super PACs and to prohibit spending by foreign-influenced corporations in Massachusetts elections. State Senator Jo Comerford is the lead sponsor of Senate bill SD 634, State Senator Mark Montigny is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill SD 759, and StateRead More
Free Speech For People applauds provision in Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act banning political spending by foreign-influenced corporations Posted on December 22, 2020 Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People applauds a provision in the newly-proposed Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act (S.5070/H.R.9029), introduced by Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal, that prohibits political spending by corporations partially owned by foreign investors. The bill follows a model established by Seattle’s Clean Campaigns Ordinance (enacted in January 2020), as well as legislationRead More
New York State Senate Considers Ban On Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending In State Elections Posted on February 12, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence Following in the footsteps of Seattle and St. Petersburg, FL, the Democracy Preservation Act seeks to ban political contributions from foreign-influenced corporations in New York The New York State Senate is considering a bill that would ban foreign-influenced corporations from contributing to political campaigns. The proposed legislation, introduced by Senate Deputy Leader Michael Gianaris, goesRead More
Maryland Lawmakers Consider Bill to Prohibit Election Spending by Foreign-Influenced Corporations Posted on February 5, 2020 (June 18, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence Maryland’s lawmakers are current considering an important bill that would prohibit spending by foreign-influenced corporations in Maryland elections. Although the legislation is still in early stages, Maryland has taken an important step toward protecting the state’s democratic self-government. The legislation, introduced in the House of Delegates by Delegate Julie Palakovich-Carr (H.B. 34) and in theRead More
Pacific Legal Foundation Blatantly Misrepresents Seattle’s New Campaign Finance Law Posted on January 31, 2020 (May 29, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence The Pacific Legal Foundation recently posted a criticism of bold new Seattle law, part of a larger package known as the Clean Campaigns Act, that bans political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. Unfortunately, the Pacific Legal Foundation has blatantly misrepresented the law. In Seattle, the Pacific Legal Foundation may be best known for its unsuccessful (soRead More
Americans Overwhelmingly Support Banning Foreign Corporate Spending in Elections Posted on January 14, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence A recent survey conducted by Civis Analytics on behalf of the Center for American Progress Action Fund found strong bipartisan support for banning corporate spending in elections from corporations with significant foreign ownership. Of the 2,633 voters interviewed for the survey, 73 percent said they supported spending limits on U.S. companies with “any” foreign ownership.Read More
FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub Makes the Case In Support of Seattle’s New Landmark Campaign Finance Law Posted on January 14, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub argues in a New York Times opinion piece why Seattle’s new law banning foreign-influenced corporations from spending money in Seattle elections is constitutional and correct. Commissioner Weintraub writes: “Seattle, along with other cities and states, doesn’t need to worry. No court has ever come close to holding that the Federal ElectionRead More
Following Amazon $1.5 Million Campaign to Try to Remake the Seattle City Council, Lawmakers Ban Foreign-Influenced Corporations from Spending in City Elections Posted on January 13, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence The Seattle City Council voted 7-0 to pass landmark bill on Monday, effectively banning foreign corporate spending in city elections. SEATTLE, WA (January 13, 2020) – The Seattle City Council voted today to pass a landmark campaign finance law that combats the influence of foreign corporate spending in city elections. The legislation, introduced by CouncilmemberRead More
Lawmakers Seek to Close Loophole to Stop Foreign-Influenced Corporations From Influencing Maryland Elections Posted on January 6, 2020 (June 2, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence Delegate Palakovich Carr and Senator Lam Prefiled a Bill that would Protect Maryland Elections from Foreign-Influenced Corporations. ANNAPOLIS, MD (January 6, 2020) – Delegate Julie Palakovich Carr and Senator Clarence Lam prefiled a bill that would prohibit spending by foreign-influenced corporations in Maryland elections. The bill would require corporations that spend money in Maryland electionsRead More
New CAP Report on Ending Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in U.S. Elections Highlights Problem, Validates FSFP’s Work Posted on November 21, 2019 (June 18, 2020) Challenging Foreign Influence A new report from the Center for American Progress, written by senior fellow Michael Sozan, highlights the problem of political spending by foreign-influenced corporations. The report—which cites Free Speech For People’s pioneering legislative work in places like Seattle, St. Petersburg, and Massachusetts—proposes banning political spending by partially-foreign-owned corporations, using the same thresholds for foreign ownershipRead More