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June 6, 2013 8:00 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Why Senate Republican Claims About the D.C. Circuit Don’t Pass the Pinocchio Test
Earlier this week President Obama nominated three unquestionably qualified candidates – appellate attorney Patricia Millet, former civil rights attorney Cornelia Pillard and D.C. District Court judge Robert Wilkins – to the D.C. Circuit, the second most influential court in the…
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June 5, 2013 9:53 pm | By Ben C.
New Report Sheds Light on Inequalities Suffered by LGBT Workers
Our society is one which remains afflicted by institutionalized discrimination. Although most Americans believe protections already exist, it is still perfectly legal to fire someone for being lesbian, gay, or bisexual in 29 states, and for being transgender in 34.…
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June 5, 2013 8:03 pm | By Libby
Calling Out Corbett: PFAW Press Conferences in Pennsylvania
The pushback against Pennsylvania Republicans’ electoral vote-rigging bill continues to grow, as more and more public officials and average voters call on Governor Corbett to dump the hyper-partisan scheme plan. On Monday, People For the American Way held a press…
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June 5, 2013 5:22 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Student Non-Discrimination Act Sorely Needed in Our Nation’s Schools
“I stopped going to school four months before graduation because I couldn’t handle the bullying anymore. I will not get to attend my senior prom, and…throw my graduation cap in the air.” Harassment and bullying in schools are widely understood…
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June 4, 2013 9:53 pm | By Miranda Blue
President Obama Blasts GOP Obstruction, Nominates Three to Influential Court
Today, President Obama nominated three people – experienced appellate attorney Patricia Millet, Georgetown law professor and former civil rights attorney Cornelia “Nina” Pillard and D.C. District Court judge and former public defender Robert Wilkins – to the influential Court of…
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June 4, 2013 9:25 pm | By Miranda Blue
More Truthiness From Sen. Grassley on the Courts
When the Senate unanimously confirmed Sri Srinivasan to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit last month, Republicans patted themselves on the back for cooperating in a relatively efficient confirmation process. But, by any objective standard, Srinivasan’s confirmation process…
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May 31, 2013 8:43 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Illinois Becomes 14th State to Call For Amendment Overturning Citizens United
With all eyes on Illinois today for a possible marriage equality vote, the Illinois General Assembly took another important action – they called for a constitutional amendment to overturn the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. Following…
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May 31, 2013 2:06 pm | By
How the Kochs are Buying Silence–Without Spending a Dime
Between buying elections, billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch shop for big pieces of American media and culture. And, hey, why not? We already knew of the Kochs' efforts to buy Tribune Company, the parent of the Los Angeles Times…
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May 29, 2013 9:22 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Exxon Mobil Votes Down LGBT Discrimination Ban, Again
Today, for the fourteenth time, Exxon Mobil shareholders voted down a resolution supporting an LGBT-inclusive equal employment opportunity statement. With 94% of the largest companies in America already prohibiting sexual orientation-based discrimination and 78% prohibiting gender identity-based discrimination, Exxon Mobil…
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May 29, 2013 3:38 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
PFAW and Allies Go ‘Door to Door’ in DE State Legislature in Campaign to Get Money Out of Politics
It was the tiring but rewarding work of democracy in action. PFAW Legislative Representative Calvin Sloan recently joined PFAW members and ally organizations Common Cause Delaware and Public Citizen in meeting with Delaware Senators and Representatives, asking them to sign…
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May 28, 2013 5:58 pm | By Libby
Wolf Calls On Corbett to Drop Electoral College Bill: PFAW Press Conference
This morning, gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf became yet another in a long line of prominent Pennsylvanians of both parties to speak out against the Republican electoral college rigging proposal. At a People For the American Way press conference in Lancaster,…
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May 24, 2013 7:54 pm | By Paul Gordon
1000-Day Judicial Vacancy in Georgia
This Memorial Day weekend will be the 1000th day since Eleventh Circuit Judge Stanley Birch retired, leaving a vacancy that has yet to be filled. Way back at the beginning of 2012, President Obama nominated the exceptionally qualified Jill Pryor…
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May 24, 2013 7:11 pm | By Miranda Blue
Susan Collins’ D.C. Circuit Hypocrisy
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins signed on today as a cosponsor of a blatantly political bill meant to deny President Obama, unlike any of his predecessors, the ability to fill vacancies on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The D.C.…
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May 24, 2013 2:51 pm | By Scott
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett Just Can’t Find ANY Latinos
Sometimes, Governors ‘say the darndest things.’ In a roundtable discussion hosted by the Al Dia Spanish language newspaper at The Union League of Pennsylvania Wednesday, PA Gov. Tom Corbett let it slip that he didn’t ‘have any’ Latinos serving in…
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May 23, 2013 9:24 pm | By Miranda Blue
D.C. Circuit Vacancies: One Down, Three to Go
The Senate today unanimously confirmed Sri Srinivasan to the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Srinivasan’s confirmation is historic: he’ll become the first federal appeals court judge of South Asian descent. He will also become the first Obama nominee…
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May 23, 2013 8:23 pm | By Calvin Sloan
“Fix Our America” Takes Off in Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, California, a group of specialists in media, advertising and entertainment, joined by business people, lawyers, and civic activists have founded an organization that is running advertisements based solely on the need to amend the Constitution to fix…
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May 23, 2013 3:27 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
Rethinking the IRS Mess
Amid Congressional hearings and an unending stream of pointed fingers, what is the real takeaway from the unfolding IRS mess? United Steelworkers President Leo Gerard has the answer, arguing that our country needs to rethink the role of corporate money…
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May 22, 2013 9:39 pm | By Paul Gordon
McConnell Bobs and Weaves on Judicial Nominations
On the Senate floor this morning, Republican leader Mitch McConnell again showed how utterly without merit his party's obstruction techniques are. Last week, the Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to approve the nomination of Sri Srinivasan to the D.C. Circuit, a…
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May 22, 2013 5:34 pm | By Layne Amerikaner
As Immigration Bill Advances, Common Sense Faces off with Extremism
Last night the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 13-5 to advance immigration legislation that creates a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants. It is expected to come to the Senate floor for debate in June. As the bill moves…
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May 20, 2013 6:37 pm | By Paul Gordon
The Wall St. Journal’s Bizarre Attack on Potential DC Circuit Nominations
The Wall Street Journal published a remarkable editorial yesterday accusing President Obama of acting like a "king" and acting illegitimately "for political ends" because he wants to fulfill his constitutional responsibility to nominate people for each of the judgeships that…