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May 16, 2012 8:00 pm | By Justin
Educators Dismiss ALEC
The National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA) will not renew their membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council, the organization said in a statement released on Tuesday. NACSA is the third major educational organization to drop their association with…
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May 16, 2012 4:37 pm | By Paul Gordon
White House Condemns Obstruction of Judicial Nominations
During yesterday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Jay Carney discussed the vacancy crisis that is plaguing America’s federal courts – and the unprecedented obstruction in the Senate that is causing it. When he observed that the pace of confirmations…
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May 16, 2012 2:34 pm | By Miranda Blue
All of a Sudden, House GOP Doesn’t Like “Issues that Divide Us”
The National Journal today reports on the rocky progress of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which for the first time this year has become an object of partisan dispute. Why? The Democratic-backed reauthorization includes new protections for…
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May 15, 2012 3:45 pm | By Miranda Blue
Virginia Rejects Openly Gay Judicial Nominee After Campaign By Far-Right Activists
Virginia’s House of Delegates yesterday rejected the nomination of a state prosecutor to serve as a judge – just because he is openly gay. Tracy Thorne-Begland, a Navy veteran who has been a prosecutor in Richmond for 12 years, enjoyed…
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May 15, 2012 1:44 pm | By Justin
ALEC’s Strategy for Tough Questioning: Evade and Reframe
Since ALEC’s agenda has come to light, the organization has found itself playing defense. So far, 14 corporations and numerous member legislators have withdrawn their support in recent weeks as a result of the intense media scrutiny and public campaigns…
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May 14, 2012 9:54 pm | By Matt
House votes to slam courthouse doors shut to immigration cases
Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Arizona v. United States, a case that will examine key provisions of Arizona’s infamous and draconian immigration law, SB 1070. Sponsored by ALEC member and former Senate President Russell Pearce, and…
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May 14, 2012 7:41 pm | By Justin
YP4 Featured Fellow: Ariel Boone
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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May 11, 2012 3:32 pm | By Ben Betz
WI Recall: In film, Walker talks of ‘divide and conquer’ union strategy
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (emphasis added): A filmmaker released a video today that shows Gov. Scott Walker saying he would use "divide and conquer" as a strategy against unions. Walker made the comments to Beloit billionaire Diane Hendricks, who…
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May 10, 2012 9:31 pm | By Justin
Students Protest Corporate Political Spending
As part of the Corporate Reform Coalition, People For the American Way has been pressing for solutions to the problem of major corporations using their vast treasuries to influence elections. Our message to corporations is clear: leave democracy to the…
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May 9, 2012 8:57 pm | By
Obama Endorses Marriage Equality
video platform Today’s announcement marks a proud day for our country and for the President. For those of us who have been working towards marriage equality for many years, the impact of having the support of the President of…
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May 9, 2012 8:55 pm | By Miranda Blue
As President Obama Supports Marriage Equality, a Look Back
Today, President Obama at last acknowledged that he personally supports the right to marry for gay and lesbian Americans. Although the president maintains his position that marriage laws should be decided on a state-by-state basis, his personal statement provides a…
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May 9, 2012 8:43 pm | By Justin
Beverage Giant Diageo Drops Heartland Institute
Joining the scores of corporations that have recently dropped their support of ultra-conservative organizations that represent shady, undemocratic and disingenuous practices, the London-based beverage giant Diageo, which owns brands such as Guinness, Smirnoff, Johnny Walker and others, announced that they…
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May 9, 2012 7:26 pm | By Jen Herrick
The state of our electoral system – in cartoon form
POLITICO’s Matt Wuerker, 2012 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning, recently provided pointed commentary on the state of our electoral system. The left side speaks to our ongoing voting rights work. The Right to Vote under Attack: The…
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May 9, 2012 6:00 pm | By Miranda Blue
Right Wing Watch Research Exposes Extremism of Capitol Event
Last week, PFAW’s Right Wing Watch reported that a who’s who of Religious Right activists had recently gathered in the Capitol, with the endorsement of Speaker John Boehner, for a George Washington-themed prayer event. Last night, Rachel Maddow did a…
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May 9, 2012 3:01 pm | By Marge Baker
President Obama Committed to Continued Push on Judicial Nominations
Capping off an extremely important day of discussions with senior White House officials and Capitol Hill offices about ending the unprecedented Republican obstruction that is contributing to our severe federal judicial vacancy crisis, several state and national advocates had the…
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May 9, 2012 2:47 pm | By Miranda Blue
Mitt Romney Caved to the Religious Right and This is the Thanks He Gets
Last week, in response to pressure from the Religous Right -- much of which was documented by PFAW's Right Wing Watch -- the Romney campaign forced out an openly gay spokesman who had been on the job for less than…
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May 8, 2012 9:18 pm | By Justin
Marriage Equality: A State-By-State Guide
As North Carolinians go to the polls today to cast their ballot on an anti-gay constitutional amendment which would write discrimination into the state’s constitution and potentially harm all unmarried couples regardless of orientation, The Guardian put together an interactive…
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May 8, 2012 7:22 pm | By Ben Betz
Wisconsin Republicans Rally Against the Recall
Over the weekend, Republicans and right-wing activists gathered for a rally in Oshkosh, WI. The Oshkosh Northwestern filmed the event, and our friends at We Are Wisconsin PAC clipped some highlights (below). The rally seems to have consisted of right-wing…
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May 8, 2012 7:08 pm | By Jen Herrick
Voter ID likely off the table for Wisconsin recall
You heard the good news from Connecticut and Louisiana. Now it’s Wisconsin’s turn. Voter ID is likely off the table for the recall election! Last May, Wisconsin Governor and ALEC Alum Scott Walker signed Act 23 (aka AB 7), a…
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May 8, 2012 6:46 pm | By Jen Herrick
UPDATE: “Gut and go” used to move up proof of citizenship in Kansas
UPDATE: Representative Scott Schwab, an ALEC member who chairs the Committee on Elections, brought H Sub SB 17 to the House floor. It passed by a 67-53 vote on May 8, and now goes to the Senate, which supports delayed…