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July 2, 2012 9:21 pm | By Josh Glasstetter
John Lehman Victorious in Wisconsin State Senate Recount
Official recount results released today show Sen. Lehman defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard. “The official canvas after the June 5 elections showed Lehman leading Wanggaard by 834 votes out of nearly 72,000 ballots cast in Racine County's 21st Senate…
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July 2, 2012 8:27 pm | By Justin
PFAW Welcomes Nuns On the Bus
PFAW staff and supporters welcomed home the Nuns on the Bus as they arrived in Washington, DC following a two-week tour through nine states. The Catholic sisters went on tour to stand in solidarity with those living in poverty and…
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July 2, 2012 7:59 pm | By Justin
United Conference of Mayors Calls for Overturning Citizens United
At their annual conference in Orlando, the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United, which opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate and special interest spending on elections. Citing Justice…
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June 29, 2012 9:16 pm | By Paul Gordon
Republican Obstruction Impedes Efforts to Diversify the Federal Bench
Senate Republicans' ongoing obstruction of President Obama's judicial nominees is having a disproportionate impact on those who are women and people of color. A remarkable 64% of federal judges nominated by Obama are women and people of color, a rate…
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June 29, 2012 8:39 pm | By Josh Glasstetter
New Reporting Guts Central GOP Arguments Involving ‘Fast and Furious’ Operation
Yesterday the House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress, prompting a walkout of 108 Democrats who wanted to make clear that the vote was a baseless political stunt aimed at tarnishing the Attorney…
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June 29, 2012 7:52 pm | By Jen Herrick
Fight over voter ID heating up in Minnesota
The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota along with the League of Women Voters Minnesota, Common Cause Minnesota, Jewish Community Action, and five Minnesota voters have challenged an amendment to the Minnesota constitution (HF 2738, sponsored by ALEC State Chairwoman…
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June 29, 2012 6:53 pm | By Josh Glasstetter
Contempt: Republican Witch-Hunt Makes History
On Thursday, President Obama’s Attorney General, Eric Holder, became the first sitting cabinet member to be held in contempt of Congress. The blatantly political move by the GOP-controlled House of Representatives was the culmination of a multiyear plan by right-wing…
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June 29, 2012 4:18 pm | By Amelia
Changes to voter registration forms problematic in Maine
Changes to Maine’s voter registration form have lead the Secretary of State’s office to halt production of the old version, thus leaving voter registration drives with limited options as they await the new release. Colleen Lachowicz, a Democratic candidate for…
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June 29, 2012 3:54 pm | By Dylan
Ruling in Florida purge case
A lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice after Florida Governor Rick Scott and Secretary of State Ken Detzner refused to stop the voter purge suffered a blow this week when Judge Robert Hinkle of the US District Court of…
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June 29, 2012 3:51 pm | By Dylan
Voter suppression package arrives on Michigan Governor’s desk
A series of voter suppression bills, whose ALEC ties include Representative Dave Agema and Senators David Robertson and Darwin Booher, have now made their way to Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. Supporters claim that the legislation is necessary to combat voter…
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June 29, 2012 3:07 pm | By Justin
PFAW Foundation Celebrates Founder Norman Lear’s 90th Birthday and the Young Elected Officials Network
Last week, People For the American Way Foundation hosted a gala at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate founder Norman Lear’s 90th birthday and the Young Elected Officials Network. The event highlighted Lear’s legendary career as a…
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June 29, 2012 2:14 pm | By Justin
YP4 Featured Fellow: Elena Swartz
Young People For (YP4), a program of People For the American Way Foundation, is a year-long leadership development program that helps a diverse set of student leaders turn their idealism into actions that advance social change on their campuses and…
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June 29, 2012 4:00 am | By admin
Guest Post: YP4, Norman Lear, and a Movement Family
By Erik Lampmann Norman Lear, more so than almost any other, understands the inspiration, joy, and revitalization to be had by bringing together a diverse and wide movement to share in moments of success -- large and small. This week,…
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June 28, 2012 7:24 pm | By Omar
PFAW Shows Support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
People For the American Way staff, members and activists braved the heat today to showcase their support for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, alongside hundreds of others Americans outside the United States Supreme Court. However, PFAW was not…
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June 28, 2012 6:25 pm | By Drew Courtney
A Few Thoughts About the Supreme Court’s Obamacare Decision
First and foremost, today’s Supreme Court ruling was an extraordinarily important win for anyone who cares about healthcare. As Justice Kennedy’s dissent made clear, the Court’s most conservative members were on the verge of trashing the entire Affordable Care Act,…
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June 27, 2012 10:55 pm | By Amelia
Wisconsin Voter ID Undermined by Ethics Violation
Defenders of Wisconsin’s Act 23 (aka AB 7), a voter ID law sponsored by ALEC affiliated legislators and signed by ALEC alum Scott Walker, were dealt a blow last week when State Representatives Robin Vos and Bob Ziegelbauer were forced…
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June 27, 2012 9:49 pm | By Omar
Biden Challenges Americans to Picture a Romney Court
Seems like Biden has an opinion on a Romney Supreme Court, as reported by CNN Political Ticker: "Close your eyes and picture what the Supreme Court would look like four years from now under Romney," Biden said to groans from…
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June 27, 2012 9:42 pm | By Omar
Split Decisions Impact Immigration and Unions
Here’s a quick recap of the Supreme Court’s decisions during the past week: Unions are now further disadvantaged and despite some important changes to the state’s immigration law, racial profiling remains a viable option for Arizona law enforcement. On June…
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June 27, 2012 8:37 pm | By Jen Herrick
PFAW, AAMIA support Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus
Tomorrow, June 28, marks another milestone in the fight against bullying. Chairman Mike Honda and dozens of his colleagues are set to launch the Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus. The Congressional Anti-Bullying Caucus will be a premier forum for individuals and advocates…
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June 27, 2012 8:36 pm | By Dylan
Lawsuits, politics color voter ID in Pennsylvania
Earlier this year, Pennsylvania lawmakers passed HB 934, a voter ID law whose original sponsor, Daryl Metcalfe, is an ALEC member. Voting rights advocates filed a lawsuit in May, and in June, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald announced that he,…