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Issue Advocacy

The Shoddy Scholarship and Intellectual Ignorance of Ruth Marcus

Published on January 23, 2010 10:45 AM

Brad Smith

Category: Contributions & Limits, Independent Speech, Issue Advocacy, Jurisprudence & Litigation

In today's Washington Post, under the headline "The High Court's Shoddy Scholarship," Ruth Marcus accuses the Citizens United majority of, well, "shoddy scholarship," and also "stunning... intellectual dishonesty." I won't accuse Ms. Marcus of "intellectual dishonesty" herself, because I know Ms. Marcus a bit and don't think she is intellectually dishonest. But I do attribute her column to intellectual ignorance. Let's look at her accusations, one by one, below the fold...

Wisconsin state Sen. disregards First Amendment again

Published on January 19, 2010 05:14 PM

Martha Corrao

Category: Independent Speech, Issue Advocacy

Ah, the "reformers" are at it again in Wisconsin. Today the state Senate passed SB 43, a bill that requires groups involved in issue advocacy to disclose their private donors.See CCP's press release for complete details. CCP also sent a letter to the Wisconsin Assembly, where this bill now heads, urging members to reject this attempt to intimidate donors to advocacy groups in Wisconsin. Supporters of the bill, such as the lobbyist for Common Cause Wisconsin, have fallen back on tired talking po

IJ back in court to challenge Colo. campaign finance laws

Published on November 18, 2009 11:31 AM

Jeff Patch

Category: Disclosure, Independent Speech, Issue Advocacy, Jurisprudence & Litigation

The Institute for Justice is in court today, representing six neighbors in Parker North, Colo. in their challenge of Colorado's restrictive campaign finance laws. The case is before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. IJ Senior Attorney Steve Simpson is arguing the case. The neighbors, who opposed annexation of their homes into a nearby town, were sued by a political opponent for violating Colorado's campaign finance law sby not registering as an "issue committee." The group was for

Rep. Woolsey threatens church with IRS investigation

Published on November 10, 2009 02:50 AM

Jeff Patch

Category: Issue Advocacy, Lobbying

Politico published an "Ideas" piece from Rep. Lynn Woolsey of California yesterday. The co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Congress attacked the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for daring to express an opinion on legislation and urge their members to express their opinions to their lawmakers. She urged an IRS investigation into the tax-exempt group's political activity.

CCP sends letter to Obama advisor Eisen on administration's censorship of critics

Published on September 23, 2009 11:41 AM

Jeff Patch

Category: Issue Advocacy

The Center for Competitive Politics sent a letter today to Obama advisor Norm Eisen on the administration's recent order censoring Humana and other critics of a congressional health care proposal. Our release is here. The letter is here.

Senator Baucus threatens Humana for political dissent

Published on September 21, 2009

Sean Parnell

Category: Issue Advocacy

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