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June 19, 2014 1:48 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
“I’m Afraid to Do What I Think Is Right”: Report Highlights Real-World Impact of Outside Political Spending
While we may be accustomed to seeing charts and tables about the impact of big money in politics, it’s far less common to hear about the real-world stories of its influence. Yesterday researchers from Ohio State University released a new…
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June 18, 2014 10:17 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Ted Cruz and the Myth of the Censored Grandma
In today’s Senate subcommittee markup on a proposed constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and get big money out of politics, Sen. Ted Cruz was ready with a long line of scary predictions as to what the proposed amendment would…
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June 18, 2014 5:40 pm | By Elliot Mincberg
America’s History of Amending the Constitution to Expand Democracy (And Overturn the Supreme Court)
Although Congress and the American people have been very careful to preserve the Constitution throughout our history, they have not hesitated to amend it in order to correct harmful Supreme Court rulings and to promote popular democracy. That is precisely…
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June 17, 2014 6:55 pm | By Dory
North Carolina GOP Senate Candidate Thom Tillis Marginalizes Minority Communities
In an interview recorded in September 2012, North Carolina Speaker of the House and U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis compared the growing population of African Americans and Latinos to a stagnant “traditional population of North Carolina and the United States.”…
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June 16, 2014 9:55 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Obama to Issue Executive Order Protecting Federal Contractors’ LGBT Employees
The White House announced today that President Obama will issue an executive order protecting the employees of federal contractors from workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. According to the White House, it is an action…
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June 16, 2014 8:43 pm | By Jen Herrick
Dakotans File Suit, All Fifty States Now Have Either Marriage Equality or a Legal Challenge in Progress
In May, when we last updated our numbers on the fight for marriage equality, there were just two states left with unchallenged bans on same-sex marriage. Today that number is zero – every state now either has marriage equality (19…
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June 11, 2014 8:52 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
What Cantor’s Defeat Says About Money In Politics
As the news of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s surprising loss last night to Tea Party challenger David Brat sinks in, Brat’s anti-immigrant extremism is increasingly coming into the spotlight. Today Right Wing Watch wrote that Brat actively sought out…
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June 10, 2014 10:20 pm | By Scott
Same-Sex Marriages Continue in Wisconsin After Federal Judge Denies Motion to Stay
Since last Friday’s ruling by Federal Judge Barbara Crabb that Wisconsin’s ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, hundreds of same-sex couples have lined up to get marriage licenses across the Badger State. Immediately after receiving the ruling, clerks in Dane…
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June 10, 2014 9:28 pm | By Peter Montgomery
Poll Confirms Majority Support for Immigration Reform, Explains GOP Obstruction
A survey released today by the Public Religion Research Institute and the Brookings Institution finds strong public support, across political and religious lines, for immigration reform that includes a path to citizenship for people now living in the country illegally.…
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June 10, 2014 3:03 pm | By Alex H.
One Third of Americans Live in Cities or States Calling for Amendment to #GetMoneyOut
The movement to get big money out of politics has made remarkable progress. Four years ago, after the Supreme Court issued its Citizens United ruling, there were just four senators cosponsoring an amendment to overturn that decision and related cases.…
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June 9, 2014 2:58 pm | By Alex H.
Money in Politics Takes Top Billing on Congress.Gov
Attending the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a proposed amendment to get big money out of politics last Tuesday, it was hard not to feel a special kind of energy and excitement in the room. So when the most viewed…
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June 6, 2014 9:32 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
BREAKING: Wisconsin Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
A District Court judge ruled today that Wisconsin’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples is unconstitutional. Judge Barbara Crabb relied on equal protection law to strike down the ban: "My task under federal law is to decide the claims presented…
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June 5, 2014 6:43 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
President Obama’s Support for Amendment to #GetMoneyOut Predates Public Announcement, According To New Book
Nearly two years ago, President Obama caused a splash by expressing support for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United during a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” session. Asked during the online forum what he was going to do to “end…
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June 5, 2014 6:35 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Udall Constitutional Amendment to Restore Our Democracy: PFAW Member Telebriefing
The day after Sen. Tom Udall’s proposed constitutional amendment to get big money out of politics was considered at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Sen. Udall joined People For the American Way activists, supporters, and staff members on a member…
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June 4, 2014 2:57 pm | By Alex Hart
45 Senators Support Amendment Strategy to Get Money Out of Elections
45 US Senators now support a constititutional amendment to undo the harm of decisions like Citizens United and McCutcheon. Do yours? State Senator Alaska Sen. Mark Begich California Sen. Barbara Boxer California Sen. Diane Feinstein Colorado Sen. Michael F.…
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June 4, 2014 2:44 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
PFAW and Allies Deliver to Senate Hearing Two Million Petitions for an Amendment to #GetMoneyOut
Before yesterday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on a proposed campaign finance constitutional amendment had even begun, advocates from People For the American Way and partner organizations had already delivered a powerful message from the American people. Carrying signs saying “Restore…
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June 2, 2014 12:47 pm | By Paul Gordon
Still In Store from the Supreme Court in 2014
There is about a month remaining before the end of the Supreme Court’s current term, which is expected to be at the end of June. The Roberts Court has already done great damage in the cases it has decided so…
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May 30, 2014 4:10 pm | By Drew Courtney
The Religious Right’s Persecution Complex: PFAW Member Telebriefing
Yesterday, People For the American Way activists and supporters joined members of PFAW’s Right Wing Watch team for a preview of our upcoming report on the Religious Right’s claims of persecution and discrimination. PFAW Senior Fellow Peter Montgomery and Senior…
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May 28, 2014 9:55 pm | By Paul Gordon
2001 Recording Undercuts Georgia Judicial Nominee Mike Boggs’ 2014 Testimony
At his confirmation hearing, Georgia judicial nominee Mike Boggs tried to explain away a number of troubling aspects of his record. Those efforts were unconvincing, which is why People For the American Way opposes Boggs' nomination. Many senators, both on…
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May 28, 2014 3:00 pm | By Jen Herrick
YEO Evan Low, US Senator Tammy Baldwin, Anne Kronenberg, and Others Dedicate the Harvey Milk Stamp
Last week, the highly-anticipated Harvey Milk stamp made its debut in a White House dedication ceremony featuring a roster packed with dynamic speakers including Evan Low, a Campbell, California city councilmember and participant in PFAW Foundation's Young Elected Officials Network,…