“In your name, we will keep fighting for our democracy”: FSFP President John Bonifaz Discusses The Life and Legacy of Democracy Activist Doris “Granny D” Haddock. Posted on February 4, 2022 Defending Key Reforms FSFP President recently appeared in a new video commemorating the life and legacy of democracy activist Doris “Granny D” Haddock, who walked across the country at eighty-nine years old and engaged in other forms of activism to call for an overhaul of the U.S. campaign finance system. Watch the video below.Read More
VIDEO: Free Speech For People And Our Fight To End Foreign-Influenced Corporate Spending in Our Elections Posted on March 31, 2021 (April 2, 2021) Challenging Foreign Influence Free Speech For People has been at the forefront in the fight to end foreign-influenced corporate campaign spending, researching, drafting, and advocating for legislation on all levels of government. We helped to successfully pass laws in St. Petersburg, Florida in 2017, and in Seattle, Washington in 2020. Seven states (Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, NewRead More
Victory for Contribution Limits: Supreme Court Allows Ninth Circuit’s Lair Decision to Stand Posted on January 14, 2019 Today the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear a challenge to Montana’s political contribution limits in a case that Free Speech For People has been working on since 2014. The history of the Lair case dates back to September 2011. The plaintiffs alleged that Montana’s campaign contribution limits are unconstitutionally low and violate the First Amendment.Read More
New study shows how small-donor matching funds can help reduce influence of big money Posted on December 20, 2018 Today, the Campaign Finance Institute released a new study analyzing the potential impact if New York state reforms its campaign finance legislation to include tighter contribution limits, a ban on limited-liability companies (LLCs) from making contributions, and a small donor matching fund program modeled on the one in New York City. The Institute concludes thatRead More
Closing a Dangerous Loophole in Massachusetts’ Campaign Finance Practice Posted on December 6, 2018 (December 6, 2018) Few Americans want to see more money in politics these days. In fact, almost 80% favor limiting big donations, voicing concerns about the integrity of our democracy. But today Free Speech For People will be testifying at a public hearing to close an arbitrary loophole that has been allowing politically savvy groups to avoid registeringRead More
Split Decision from the Ninth Circuit on the Alaska Campaign Finance Challenge Posted on November 27, 2018 Today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a 2-1 decision in Thompson v. Hebdon, a case in which we filed an amicus brief. The court struck down Alaska’s limit on nonresident political contributions, over an important dissent by the chief judge of the circuit. Background The case involved challenges to fourRead More
Center for Public Integrity Reports on Our Fight Against Special Cryptocurrency Loophole Posted on November 19, 2018 (November 19, 2018) The Center for Public Integrity reported on Free Speech For People’s efforts to fight a cryptocurrency company’s request for a special loophole that could seriously undermine federal campaign finance law. As the article by Ashley Balcerzak explains: OsiaNetwork LLC, a newly formed limited liability company in Delaware, has asked the Federal Election Commission whether it’s legal for people to shareRead More
New campaign finance reform book, and a free chapter on the 28th Amendment Posted on October 26, 2018 (December 17, 2018) Democracy Amendments In April 2016, Free Speech For People co-hosted a symposium at Seton Hall School of Law featuring scholars and activists from across the country to help develop new thinking and proposed solutions for overhauling our nation’s campaign finance system. The ideas presented at that symposium led to the new book, ‘Democracy by the People: Reforming Campaign Finance in America’.Read More
FSFP to Federal Election Commission: Don’t Allow Unlimited Bitcoin Contributions Posted on October 5, 2018 Today, Free Speech For People asked the Federal Election Commission to reject a request for an advisory opinion from a company called OsiaNetwork LLC that would allow unlimited campaign contributions in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency. OsiaNetwork is proposing that donors could lend unlimited amounts of computer processing power to the company for “mining” cryptocurrency, which could thenRead More
FSFP Amends Complaint in McDougal Case: Urges FEC to Seek Cohen Tapes Posted on July 26, 2018 (October 3, 2018) Challenging Corruption Amended FEC Complaint Alleges that President Donald J. Trump and Attorney Michael Cohen Broke Federal Campaign Finance Laws by Coordinating with American Media, Inc. on “Catch and Kill” Payment for Trump Adultery Story Free Speech For People, the First Government Watchdog Group to File a Complaint with the FEC Against American Media, Inc. and TrumpRead More