Freedom of Speech

Freedom of Speech

Florida Supreme Court Removes Voucher Amendments from Ballot

Following oral argument this morning, the Florida Supreme Court this afternoon unanimously ordered that two proposed state constitutional amendments cannot appear on the November ballot. The amendments would have repealed the Florida Constitution's prohibition on public aid to religious institutions and allowed public funds to be used to subsidize religious and other private education. Placed on the ballot by the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission, the proposed constitutional amendments were intended to overturn the Court's 2006 ruling that invalidated the state's voucher law. The Court today ruled that the Commission overstepped its authority by placing the items on the ballot.

People For Response to Revelations of Palin's Attempted Book Banning

Time Magazine today reports that Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin attempted to ban books from her local library as mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, and then threatened to fire the librarian who stood up to her for not giving "full support" to the mayor. People For the American Way president Kathryn Kolbert issued the following statement: "People can disagree about a lot of things, but censorship is completely beyond the pale."

Defending Constitutional Liberties

2008

3/12 - Surveillance

Promoting Civic Participation

2008

2/26 - Deceptive Practices

Bush Administration Demagogues FISA Debate

Senate Republicans Block Vote on Indefinite Detentions

Questions Mukasey Must Answer

PFAW on Gonzales Resignation: It’s High Time

PFAW Urges Full House to Support Contempt Citation for White House Officials

The House Judiciary Committee today voted along party lines to recommend that the full house hold White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former legal counselor Harriet Miers in contempt of Congress. Under direction from President Bush, Miers refused to appear before the committee last week, and both officials have refused to hand over documents relevant to the improper firing of nine U.S. Attorneys last year, despite subpoenas issued by the committee.

Court Says Government Must Restore Habeas for Alien Resident

Petitions Call for Gonzales to Resign or Be Removed

More than 48,000 petitions calling for Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resign or be removed from office were delivered to Capitol Hill today. Collected by People For the American Way, the petitions were delivered to the office of Senator Charles Schumer of New York, who is one of the lead sponsors of a resolution expressing a lack of confidence in the Attorney General.

Republicans Block No-Confidence Vote On Gonzales

Congress must demand that Gonzales resign or that he be removed from office!

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sign the petition!

Opposition in the United States Senate today refused to hold Alberto Gonzales accountable for his actions as Attorney General. A majority of Republicans, joined by independent Joe Lieberman, voted to turn a blind eye to the wrongdoing of Mr. Gonzales.

Schlozman Reveals More Disarray in DOJ

At a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee today, former interim U.S. Attorney Bradley Schlozman refused to take responsibility for his role in the politicization of the Department of Justice. Schlozman, who headed the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ before being appointed interim U.S. Attorney for Western Missouri, battled memory lapses while revealing that he may have bragged about the number of Republican lawyers he hired, and presented flimsy excuses in the face of other allegations.

Monica Goodling Testimony Confirms Need for Accountability

Senators Call For Vote of No Confidence on Alberto Gonzales

Senators Schumer and Feinstein today called for the Senate to formally express its lack of confidence in Attorney General Alberto Gonzales.

People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas issued the following statement:

“On behalf of more than 40,000 Americans who have signed our petition calling for Alberto Gonzales to resign or be removed, I applaud Senators Schumer and Feinstein, and urge the Senate to pass a resolution of no confidence with all deliberate speed.