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Political Spending: Civic Engagement is Not a Threat to Democracy

January 1, 2018  •  By IFS Staff  •    •  

The First Amendment guarantees every American freedom of speech. That freedom includes the right to spend money on speech. Without money, a political group cannot buy ads, print fliers, organize protests, or hire staff. Short of shouting one’s opinions on a street corner, it takes money to spread a message. Recognizing this relationship, the Supreme Court has long prohibited the…

Candidate Oprah? Campaign Finance Laws Would Give Her a Leg Up

January 8, 2018   •  By Luke Wachob   •  , ,

Oprah Winfrey’s speech at the Golden Globes this Sunday sparked speculation over whether the billionaire celebrity might run for president in 2020. Some are ...

More campaign finance regulation means less political free speech

December 27, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

Political donors have undermined “the very legitimacy of our democracy,” according to Russ Feingold, a former Democratic U.S. Senator from Wisconsin. In a recent ...

Out-of-State Spending Was a Tool for Local Change in Alabama

December 13, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

The Alabama special election for U.S. Senate concluded Tuesday with a win for Democrat Doug Jones. Given the deep-red electoral history of the state, ...

Political Contributions are Speech: Jeff Flake Edition

December 7, 2017   •  By Scott Blackburn   •  , ,

Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake recently made a $100 contribution to Alabama’s Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, Doug Jones. Along with the donation, Flake ...

No, “Big Donors” Aren’t the Only Ones Who Want Tax Reform

December 6, 2017   •  By Joe Albanese   •  , ,

A perennial tactic in political debates is to oppose legislation not just in terms of ideology or policy soundness, but also to attribute the ...

Brace Yourself for the Tax Ads, You Just Might Learn Something

December 5, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

As the end of the year approaches, legislation that amends portions of the federal tax code is moving quickly through Congress. Unsurprisingly, over the ...

Let’s Talk Turkey: Comparing 2016 Election and Thanksgiving Spending

December 4, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  ,

Over Thanksgiving, one of your relatives may have mentioned the amount of money ($6.4 Billion) spent in the 2016 election cycle, asserting that there ...

Let’s Talk Turkey: Comparing 2016 Election and Thanksgiving Spending

December 4, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  ,

During the time-honored tradition of contentious political discussions at the Thanksgiving dinner table, one of your relatives may have mentioned the amount of money ...

Wave election possible because of Virginia’s campaign finance laws

November 16, 2017   •  By Scott Blackburn   •  , , ,

The recent election in Virginia was a wave. Democrats swept the races for statewide office. Republicans, previously a supermajority in the House of Delegates, ...

Broomfield, Colorado’s Ballot Question Reminds Us There is Room for Individuals and Groups in Elections

November 15, 2017   •  By Alex Cordell   •  , ,

On Election Day last Tuesday, voters in Broomfield, Colorado decisively approved Question 301; a ballot initiative that grants the city greater authority to regulate ...

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