Our Blog

A top story in the Sunday Times detailed how secret donors are exploiting their ability to give large sums anonymously, post-Citizens-United, to mount an unusually aggressive campaign to defeat the nomination of former Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) for Secretary of Defense. Here are a few key excerpts (emphasis in bold is added).

This has been a busy week, with the McGovern bills being introduced and with our White House petition hitting the 25k threshold.

Another big deal this week was a rally in Augusta, Maine, organized by our friends at Maine Citizens For Clean Elections, in support of a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. Our co-founder and President, Jeff Clements, participated, and there was a terrific turnout. The campaign for an amendment is well underway in Maine, with bipartisan support.

Here are excerpts from a few great press clips on it:

STATEMENT BY HARVARD LAW PROFESSOR JOHN COATES

For Immediate Release
January 23, 2012

Groups Energized by Introduction of Constitutional Amendments to Overturn Citizens United

As Grassroots Movement Grows, Amendments Receive Bipartisan Support, Enthusiastic “Netroots” Response

Washington, DC. - Free Speech For People joined with others in applauding yesterday’s introduction in Congress of two Constitutional amendments bills to overturn the Supreme Court's 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC.

Tuesday, January 22

Miles Mogulescu has good piece up on Huffington Post covering the signficance of this weekend's events, which we are co-sponsoring, jointly remembering the Citizens United anniversary and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Here it is:

Voting Rights and Money Out of Politics Movements Form Historic Democracy Coalition
Posted: 01/18/2013 4:16 pm

American democracy is under threat from two powerful sources:

Yesterday in Olympia, WA, we joined with a coalition of Washington State groups to deliver roughly 12,000 petition signatures, calling for a constitutoinal amendment to overtun Citizens United, to State Senator Adam Kline. Oske Buckley and Arielle Davis from Free Speech For People's staff participated, and Oske spoke at the delivery event.

For the past year and a half, we've been calling for Massey Energy to lose its corporate charter for its criminal responsibility in the deaths of 29 coal miners when its Upper Big Branch mine in West Vriginia exploded in 2010. The company has paid fines admitting criminal liability in their deaths.