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  • August 16, 2012 9:43 pm | By M. Jameson

    Progress Texas Announces 13 More State Legislators Have Left ALEC

    The mass exodus from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) continued today, as an additional 13 members of the state legislature cut ties with the corporate bill factory. Progress Texas reports: As we have written many times before, the American…

  • August 16, 2012 7:15 pm | By Dylan

    Voter ID lives to see another day in Pennsylvania

    Although HB 934, Pennsylvania’s ALEC-tied voter ID law, has been tested since its passage earlier this year, it remains alive and well (for now, that is) after Commonwealth Court Judge Robert Simpson refused to grant a temporary injunction. He was…

  • August 16, 2012 2:44 pm | By Dylan

    YEP Primary Winners

    The results are in from Tuesday’s primaries, and People For the American Way is proud to commend seven Young Elected Progressives endorsees on their victories. In Connecticut, PFAW applauds Assemblymen Matthew Lesser and James Albis, both running for reelection. Lesser,…

  • August 15, 2012 7:01 pm | By Dylan

    Virginia Board of Elections Calls the Right’s Bluff

    The Right’s nationwide attack on voting rights suffered a setback in Virginia when the Board of Elections refused to investigate a string of charges made by the Romney Campaign regarding prepopulated voter registration forms. Page Gardner, Voter Participation Center, President:…

  • August 15, 2012 6:49 pm | By Amelia

    UPDATE: Termination of evening and weekend voting sparks outrage in Ohio

    LATE-BREAKING: Secretary Husted has officially made the call for statewide early voting hours, 8 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday to start, then 8 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday for the last two weeks. UPDATE: Secretary Husted…

  • August 15, 2012 6:39 pm | By M. Jameson

    Two Powerhouse 501(c)(4) ‘Social Welfare Groups’ Buy Election Anonymously

    According to a new article in ProPublica by Kim Barker, two ‘dark money’ 501 (c)(4) conservative social welfare groups, Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity, have outspent all super-PACs combined on advertising, pumping nearly $60 million into this year’s presidential…

  • August 13, 2012 6:10 pm | By Amelia

    Fighting student voter suppression

    As the Right ramps up its efforts to put up barriers to voting, from voter ID requirements to restrictions on third-party voter registration, it is becoming more urgent to empower students and defend their voting rights. That’s why People For…

  • August 13, 2012 2:54 pm | By Dylan

    UPDATE: Massachusetts working toward positive electoral reforms

    UPDATE: While H 4139 has not moved since it got to the Senate, there is some good news on another front: a short-term agreement has been reached in a lawsuit alleging that Massachusetts violated the National Voter Registration Act. 478,000…

  • August 13, 2012 1:45 pm | By Amelia

    UPDATE: Restrictive voter ID laws may impact trans people

    Update: On August 15, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) will release two new resources to help transgender Americans overcome barriers to voting. Voting While Trans: Preparing for the New Voter Suppression Laws will focus on ID requirements. Voting…

  • PHOTOS: Religious, Political Leaders Join Launch of People For Foundation Report, ’12 Rules for Mixing Religion and Politics’
    August 10, 2012 6:44 pm | By Miranda Blue

    PHOTOS: Religious, Political Leaders Join Launch of People For Foundation Report, ’12 Rules for Mixing Religion and Politics’

    Last week, People For the American Way Foundation launched a new report, “12 Rules for Mixing Religion and Politics,” which offers guidelines for policymakers and advocates seeking to bring faith into political debates. Joining us at a launch party for…

  • August 9, 2012 7:07 pm | By M. Jameson

    People For Raises Awareness of the ‘Romney Court’ on Sotomayor Anniversary

    PFAW Activists Rally Outside Romney Headquarters in Greentree, PA Yesterday marked the 3rd anniversary of Sonia Sotomayor officially assuming her office as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. People for the American Way, in partnership with…

  • August 9, 2012 4:55 pm | By Dylan

    Next Up: Leash Laws for Unicorns

    The Right’s so-called fight against voter fraud got a bit of airtime on The Daily Show this week, but that doesn’t mean the nationwide attack on voting rights is a laughing matter. Millions of dollars have been spent purging voter…

  • August 8, 2012 9:47 pm | By

    A Sotomayor or a Bork? The Decision Is Ours in November

    This post originally appeared in the Huffington Post. Three years ago today, the first Supreme Court confirmation battle of Barack Obama's presidency came to an end. Justice Sonia Sotomayor took the oath of office on August 8, 2009, after enduring…

  • August 8, 2012 9:23 pm | By Miranda Blue

    President Obama: A Romney Court Could ‘Turn Back the Clock for Women and Families for Decades’

    Speaking at a campaign event in Colorado today, President Obama laid out the crucial importance of the Supreme Court in November’s election: Today is the three-year anniversary of Sonia Sotomayor taking her seat on the Supreme Court. Yesterday was the…

  • August 7, 2012 8:27 pm | By Dylan

    Registration restrictions blocked in Texas

    In a ruling last week hailed by voting rights advocates, US District Judge Gregg Costa temporarily enjoined Texas Election Code provisions restricting voter registration, including those implemented by HB 2194, which has ALEC ties in author Larry Taylor and sponsor…

  • August 7, 2012 6:10 pm | By Jen Herrick

    New guidelines hit the free speech bullseye but miss the mark on bullying prevention

    On May 22, a coalition led by the American Jewish Committee and the Religious Freedom Project/First Amendment Center released Harassment, Bullying, and Free Expression: Guidelines for Free and Safe Public Schools. While we welcome the opportunity to keep the anti-bullying…

  • August 6, 2012 9:35 pm | By Amelia

    Keeping an eye on Kansas

    With Kansas set for its August 7 primary, voting rights supporters are waiting with bated breath to see how severe the suppressive effects of voter ID (sponsored by Representative Lance Kinzer, an ALEC member) will be. KanVote will have volunteers…

  • August 3, 2012 4:42 pm | By Amelia

    UPDATE: Right-wing Florida officials win fight for citizenship data

    UPDATE: New developments continue to shed light on the purge and its far-reaching impact. An article in the Atlantic details the possibility that it could lead to a 2000-style fiasco. A woman who is most certainly alivewas removed from the…

  • August 2, 2012 8:10 pm | By Dylan

    UPDATE: Michigan Primary raises citizenship question

    UPDATE: With the so-called Secure and Fair Elections package facing auncertain future, confusion is surely looming for Michigan’s August 7 federal primary election.The vetoed citizenship check box remains, but without legislative force behind it, as Secretary of State Ruth Johnson…

  • August 2, 2012 7:50 pm | By Paul Gordon

    Appeals Court Rejects Right Wing Attack on Hate Crimes Law

    A unanimous panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals today directly repudiated right-wing demagogues who claim that hate crimes legislation chills their First Amendment rights to preach against homosexuality. This stock talking point of the far right was the…