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Independent Speech
Hoersting joins PRI's panel on Citizens United
Published on March 19, 2010
Category: Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
Today's discussion on Public Radio International's "To the Point" program featured a diverse range of views —including CCP's Steve Hoersting—on the Supreme Court's recent decision in Citizens United and its implications for politics and campaign finance. From the show's description: The US Supreme Court: Free Speech and Money in Politics (12:07PM) The US Supreme Court has taken the limits off campaign spending by corporations and unions. Has that liberated a major cause of corru
Unity '08 Lives!
Published on March 18, 2010
Category: Contributions & Limits, Independent Speech, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties
We're a bit late in finding some time to comment on Unity08, the non-party political party that scored a surprising victory over the Federal Election Commission in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia earlier this month. It is an important case, because, as the Unity08 organizers had found, under the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 ("McCain-Feingold") it had been made de facto illegal to start a new national political party in the U.S. Unity08 v. FEC
CCP's Hoersting on MyTechnologyLawyer.com radio program
Published on March 12, 2010 03:01 PM
Category: Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
CCP vice president Steve Hoersting appeared on the MyTechnologyLawyer.com radio program at noon today. Listen to a stream of the show or download a link to the file. Host Scott Draughon talked with Steve about the Supreme Court's January decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. According to the show's website, "Scott covers recent decisions, pending rulings and up-coming cases, and answers your legal questions on business and technology issues. Scott also covers technology p
Citizens United's Bossie tangles with MSNBC's Ed Schultz
Published on March 12, 2010 12:12 PM
Category: Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
David Bossie, founder and president of Citizens United, sparred with Ed Schultz on the MSNBC program "The Ed Show" last night. Here's the embedded clip:
Citizens United hearing: The semantics of ‘freaking out' and ‘controlling'
Published on March 10, 2010 06:49 PM
Category: Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
Today's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission contained a sober exchange of views on campaign finance jurisprudence—and a few fireworks. CCP Chairman Brad Smith, the father-in-law of a Vermonter, unintentionally triggered the ire of Chairman Patrick Leahy of Vermo
Video of last weeks ACS panel on Citizens United
Published on February 28, 2010
Category: Coordination, Disclosure, Enforcement, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties, Stand By Your Ad
The Center for Competitive Politics covered the panel in two posts last week: "Lawyers offer mixed reviews of post-Citizens United leg. at ACS event" and "ACS panel features strong supporters of free political speech."
Shredding the First Amendment?
Published on February 25, 2010 01:56 PM
Category: Faulty Assumptions, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
The bloviating about the Citizens United decision has demonstrated, if anything, an extraordinarily weak understanding of the campaign finance landscape. Starting with the President's outlandish claims in his State of the Union Address, followed by the fear-mongering by congressmen (such as the ineffable Alan Grayson), we've been getting the feeling that the lambasting of the Supreme Court has a lot to do with nearing midterm elections and very little to do with the facts. Cue Sen. Chris Dodd's
ACS panel features strong supporters of free political speech
Published on February 24, 2010 05:03 PM
Category: Coordination, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Political Parties
The American Constitution Society, the leading liberal legal organization, hosted a remarkable and informative panel on the impact of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Notably, the panel included four defenders of the Court's majority opinion (in whole or in part) who spoke from a real-word perspective: experience as campaign finance lawyers, FEC staffers and congressional committee aides. The First Amendment Four - Jan Baran of W
Legislative and legal developments post-Citizens United
Published on February 23, 2010 02:59 PM
Category: Disclosure, Expenditure, Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation, Political Committees & 527s, Stand By Your Ad
At the federal level, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Chris Van Hollen have indicated that they plan to release a bill this week to pare back free speech protections granted by Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. CCP's press release on the legislative framework released by Schumer and Van Hollen is here. Several state legislatures are examining bills addressing Citizens United. Some would simply conform state laws and constitutions to reflect the Supreme Court's ruling that they governm
The varied 'progressive' reactions to Citizens United
Published on February 21, 2010 08:00 PM
Category: Independent Speech, Jurisprudence & Litigation
The importance of First Amendment political rights has long been an issue that splits across party lines and ideologies. The Supreme Court's January ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission divided the progressive movement in America. Prominent liberals ranging from ACLU stalwarts to some labor union attorneys to constitutional litigators like Salon.com's Glenn Greenwald praised the Court's ruling as a victory for free speech against government censorship. Most other prominent l
