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February 13, 2013 11:43 pm | By Paul Gordon
Hearing for a Diverse Group of Judicial Nominees
Today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing exemplified the great steps President Obama is taking to increase the personal and professional diversity in the federal judiciary. Five district court nominees introduced themselves to the senators and answered questions. Of the five: Two…
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February 13, 2013 10:59 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Ensuring that Desiline Victor, and all Americans, Get to Have Their Say at the Polls
In his State of the Union address last night, President Obama used his bully pulpit to ensure that the critically important issue of voting rights is securely on the agenda in 2013. Calling it “our most fundamental right as citizens,”…
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February 13, 2013 3:12 pm | By Sarah Lobe
The D.C. Circuit Court’s Fourth Vacancy
America's second most important court is now missing over a third of its judges. When Judge David Sentelle took senior status yesterday, the D.C. Circuit Court was left with its fourth vacancy. Only seven active judges – four nominated by…
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February 13, 2013 2:52 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
PFAW Calls for ‘Strong, Lasting, Comprehensive’ Reform in Senate Hearing on Immigration
“I believe we are finally at a moment where comprehensive immigration reform is within our grasp.” Last month President Obama shared these words in a speech laying out his vision for fixing our broken immigration system. PFAW applauded the President’s…
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February 12, 2013 10:51 pm | By Drew Courtney
Senate Passes Violence Against Women Act
Of all the irresponsible obstruction engaged in by the GOP over the last four years, none is as glaringly reprehensible as the Republican campaign to block reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. As Vice President Biden pointed out, three…
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February 8, 2013 9:59 pm | By Terry
D.C. Circuit Crimps President’s Recess Appointment Power
Two weeks ago, on January 25th, 2013, a panel of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, consisting of three judges appointed by Republican presidents, unanimously invalidated a decision by the National Labor Relations Board. In…
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February 8, 2013 7:33 pm | By admin
Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA: Bishop Allyson Abrams
She Deserves to Be My Wife This piece is the second in a series of guest blog posts on “Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA.” In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court arguments on the anti-gay Defense of…
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February 4, 2013 3:43 pm | By Peter Montgomery
The Challenge of “Both-And” Policymaking
People For the American Way Foundation’s Twelve Rules for Mixing Religion and Politics is grounded in our commitment to religious liberty and church-state separation, and in the recognition that fundamental constitutional values sometimes come into creative tension. Where to draw…
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February 1, 2013 4:16 pm | By admin
Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA: Sam Paltrow
This piece is the first in a series of guest blog posts on “Why It’s Time to Dump DOMA.” In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court arguments on the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, we’re asking friends of…
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January 31, 2013 6:49 pm | By Miranda Blue
Obama Nominates Iowa’s First Ever Female Circuit Court Judge
The White House announced two new federal appeals court nominees today, Jane Kelly of Iowa to serve on the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and Gregory Alan Phillips of Wyoming to serve on the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Kelly’s…
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January 30, 2013 10:25 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
John Kerry Identifies ‘Deluge of Money’ as Threat To U.S. Democracy in Farewell Speech
In his farewell address to the Senate today, newly confirmed Secretary of State John Kerry highlighted three causes of what he called a “dangerous but reversible” decline in our country’s democracy: “the decline of comity, the deluge of money, and…
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January 29, 2013 2:41 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
PFAWF’s Young People For Program Welcomes More Than 115 Student Leaders at Annual Summit
This weekend People For the American Way Foundation’s Young People For Program held its 2013 National Summit in Washington, DC. Attended by 117 young leaders from 64 different universities, this year’s Summit – “Creating Change that Lasts” – was a…
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January 25, 2013 9:43 pm | By Paul Gordon
Obama Highlights Judges in Response to Filibuster Deal
President Obama has signaled yet again the priority his administration is placing on judicial nominations during the second term. In response to the Senate's modest rules reform adopted yesterday, the president released a statement noting the impact on America's courts:…
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January 25, 2013 9:01 pm | By Paul Gordon
Recess Appointments Ruling Shows Consequences of GOP Obstructionism
Earlier today, the DC Circuit issued a decision in case challenging President Obama's recess appointments of three of the five members of the National Labor Relations Board. This is one of several lawsuits challenging these recess appointments, as well as…
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January 25, 2013 6:37 pm | By
When Everything Is Partisan, Just Do What’s Right
I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised when Republicans started complaining that President Obama's second inaugural address was too "partisan" and lacked "outreach" across the aisle. But who was left out? What did they find "partisan"? The acknowledgement of climate…
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January 24, 2013 10:29 pm | By Kyler
GOP Electoral College Scheme Advances in Virginia
It’s been less than three months since the presidential election, but GOP leaders unhappy with November’s results are already developing a multi-state plan that would further disenfranchise voters in their quest to achieve victory in 2016. On Wednesday, Republican state…
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January 24, 2013 7:07 pm | By Marge Baker
Of, By and For Actual People
In 2011 comedian Stephen Colbert announced his plan to form a political action committee, noting that he believed in "the American dream." "That dream is simple," he joked. "That anyone, no matter who they are, if they are determined, if…
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January 23, 2013 10:01 pm | By Miranda Blue
PFAW Foundation Submits Amicus Brief in Critical Voting Rights Case
Yesterday, People For the American Way Foundation , on behalf of its Young People For program, joined with Demos and several other civil rights groups to submit an amicus brief to the Supreme Court urging it to reject a new…
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January 23, 2013 8:29 pm | By Paul Gordon
Judiciary Committee Launches New Session with Judicial Nominations
The Senate Judiciary Committee held its first hearing of the 113th Congress this morning, examining a full slate of judicial nominees. Because of the unprecedented obstruction of President Obama's judicial nominees over the past four years, he is the first…
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January 22, 2013 7:02 pm | By Leslie Watson Wilson
40 Years After Roe, My Personal Fight for Justice
"I am my mother's child. The one she told one day many years ago, as I laid on a hospital table that, 'God did not intend for your life to be like mine!' The forms had been signed, we were…