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September 27, 2013 9:25 pm | By Paul Gordon
Windsor’s Echoes in New Jersey
This afternoon, a trial court in New Jersey ruled that the state is required under the state constitution to extend full marriage to same-sex couples. This is an appropriate and predictable outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in June striking…
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September 27, 2013 8:27 pm | By Paul Gordon
Three Exceptional DC Circuit Nominees
Next week, the Senate Judiciary is expected to complete its review of President Obama's three nominees for the DC Circuit by advancing the nomination of Robert Wilkins to the full Senate. As with Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard, committee Republicans…
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September 27, 2013 8:23 pm | By Libby
Republican Admits His Party Does Better When People Don’t Vote
How’s all that new outreach going, GOP? Not that well, it seems. This week, Nevada Assembly Minority Leader Pat Hickey gave meaning to that old political saying, “A gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.” Speaking on a conservative…
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September 27, 2013 2:59 pm | By Drew Courtney
Sen. Richard Blumenthal Discusses the GOP’s Judicial Obstruction and the DC Circuit with PFAW Members
President Obama has nominated three extraordinarily well qualified individuals to serve on the influential U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. But the Republican Party's intransigence and opposition have turned this into one of the most important obstruction fights…
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September 26, 2013 4:31 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
After Outcry From PFAW Foundation and Others, NC School Board Rescinds Ban on ‘Invisible Man’
The North Carolina school board that voted to ban Ralph Ellison’s landmark novel Invisible Man from school libraries last week has now voted to reinstate the book, reports Asheboro’s Courier-Tribune. Last week after hearing about the ban, PFAW Foundation president…
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September 24, 2013 6:37 pm | By Miranda Blue
Rubio Holding Up Nomination of Openly Gay African American Florida Judge
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has for months been single-handedly holding up the nomination of William Thomas, an openly gay African American Miami judge, to a federal district court. Rubio’s indefinite hold on Thomas’ nomination is one of the most…
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September 24, 2013 4:47 pm | By Miranda Blue
Senate Confirms First Ever Openly Gay Circuit Court Judge
The Senate today confirmed Justice Department attorney Todd Hughes to a federal appeals court, making him the highest-ranking openly gay federal judge in U.S. history. President Obama has nominated more openly gay men and women to the federal courts than…
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September 20, 2013 8:31 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
PFAW Foundation Urges North Carolina School Board to Reverse Decision Banning ‘Invisible Man’
People For the American Way Foundation president Michael Keegan sent a letter to members of the Randolph County, North Carolina, Board of Education today urging them to reverse their decision banning Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man from school libraries. Following a…
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September 20, 2013 5:24 pm | By Calvin Sloan
PFAW Releases New Toolkit on Getting Money Out and Voters In to Our Democracy
Americans today face twin threats to the integrity of our elections. The threats are multifaceted and formidable, involving all branches of government at the local, state and federal level – from legislative bodies, to governorships, to courthouses. The aims are…
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September 19, 2013 5:33 pm | By Miranda Blue
DC Circuit Nominee Nina Pillard’s Broad Bipartisan Support
Georgetown Law professor Nina Pillard, who has had a long and impressive career in law and public service, was approved today by the Senate Judiciary Committee to serve on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Her nomination…
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September 19, 2013 2:28 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
To Understand GOP Government Shutdown Threats, Follow the Money
If you’re curious why many House Republicans are on board with an unhinged plan to threaten a government shutdown or default over demands to “defund” Obamacare, you should follow the money. That’s what the New York Times editorial board argued…
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September 19, 2013 2:18 pm | By Paul GordonWhat the GOP Isn’t Saying About the D.C. Circuit’s Caseload
Senate Republicans are working overtime to come up with ways to distract Americans from the unmasking of their partisan motives for blocking President Obama from filling the three vacancies to the D.C. Circuit – vacancies for which there are currently…
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September 18, 2013 8:08 pm | By Libby
Carl Sciortino’s “Coming Out” Ad Makes A Splash
Back in July, PFAW Voters Alliance was proud to endorse state Rep. Carl Sciortino in the Massachusetts Fifth District special election. A true progressive, Carl made waves when he was first elected in 2004 as an openly gay challenger to…
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September 18, 2013 2:06 pm | By Peter Montgomery
The Scandal Cuccinelli Can’t Dodge: His Extremist Positions
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli wants to be the state's next Governor. But he has been dogged by an ethics scandal involving gifts he received from the head of a company that has sued the state. So last week, Cuccinelli…
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September 18, 2013 1:59 pm | By adminDC Circuit Court of Appeals Nominee Nina Pillard: 10 Things You Should Know
On June 4, 2013, President Obama nominated Georgetown Law Professor Nina Pillard to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Over the course of her law career, Professor Pillard has won historic Supreme Court victories,…
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September 18, 2013 1:56 pm | By Paul Gordon
A Powerful Call to Support Nina Pillard for the D.C. Circuit
D.C. Circuit nominee Nina Pillard – who famously wrote the briefs that convinced the Supreme Court to open the Virginia Military Institute to women – got a powerful statement of support this morning from none other than the man who…
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September 16, 2013 4:05 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
The Most Important Conservative Funder You’ve Never Heard Of
It was a big week for lifting the veil – at least a little – on the secretive world of conservative groups funding political campaigns. On Wednesday we wrote about new reports on two of the Right’s shadowy front groups…
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September 12, 2013 2:41 pm | By Libby
McConnell’s Defense of Money in Politics Is Hurting Him With Voters
Mitch McConnell sure can pick the issues he takes a stand on. Despite being a true master of gridlock and inaction, he’s been very willing to take steps to erode campaign finance regulations: in May, he continued his long-standing opposition…
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September 11, 2013 9:53 pm | By Iris
Voter suppression and intimidation reported in Colorado recall election
Two Colorado Democrats who supported stricter state gun laws in the aftermath of mass shootings were voted out of office in a special recall election yesterday. State Senate President John Morse of Colorado Springs and State Senator Angela Giron of…
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September 11, 2013 8:30 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
New Insights Into the Right’s Big Money Shell Game Highlight Need for the DISCLOSE Act
In today’s legal landscape, “following the money” is tricky – but a new report released yesterday shows why this work is critical to anyone who cares about progressive change. The latest digging from the Center for Responsive Politics’ Open Secrets…