Government authorities and five of the nation’s biggest banks reached a settlement that could assist nearly two million homeowners harmed by the real estate implosion. Yet, four million Americans have been foreclosed upon since 2007. Behind all the numbers, are people. To hear their stories — and why they need legal help — watch the Brennan Center’s multimedia series, Fighting Foreclosure: Why Legal Assistance Matters. Read Neeta Pal’s interview with one advocate aiding homeowners. And watch Mark Ladov discuss the settlement on Capital Tonight.
South Carolina Goes for the Gold
Writing in the Boston Review, the Brennan Center’s Jonathan Brater notes, “If the United States awarded medals for voter suppression, South Carolina would compete for the gold.” Brater reviews the Palmetto State’s recent efforts to make it harder to vote, including a voter ID law that could disenfranchise more than 80,000 African-Americans. The South Carolina legislature is now considering requiring documentary proof of citizenship before someone can register to vote. Yet, many older African-Americans lack birth certificates because of the state’s past discriminatory practices.
Obama’s Super PAC Flip-Flop
In an about-face, President Obama’s campaign announced it would urge donors to contribute to a Super PAC supporting his campaign. Four years ago, Obama declined support from “independent outside groups.” The simple reality is that today’s political landscape requires Obama to take advantage of outside support. Instead of condemning Obama’s pragmatism, writes the Brennan Center’s Adam Skaggs, campaign finance reform advocates should focus on a genuine outrage: Obama’s failure to nominate five (yes, five) new commissioners to the Federal Election Commission. Read Skaggs’ piece here.
Virginia Joins the War on Voting
With Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) breaking a tie vote, the Virginia state senate Monday passed a voter ID bill, continuing the wave of restrictive voting laws that will make it harder for up to 5 million people to vote in 2012. The Senate bill must still be reconciled with the House version. The Brennan Center’s Keesha Gaskins spoke to the Virginian-Pilot about the bill. Read the Brennan Center’s comprehensive study, Voting Law Changes in 2012, which details how new voting restrictions fall most heavily on young, minority, and low-income voters.
- Voter ID Laws Disenfranchise Americans
(San Antonio Express, 02/10/12) - Brennan Center’s Ladov Praises Mortgage Settlement
(Capital Tonight, 02/09/12) - Dan Defends Dad: A Citizens United Tale
(Reuters, 02/09/12) - Super PACs Make It Rain
(American Prospect, 02/08/12) - Congress Should Make Efforts Toward Cooperation
(Roll Call, 02/08/12) - The Past is Not Past
(Boston Review, 02/07/12) - Foreclosure Dispatches: Views From Around the Country
(Huffington Post, 02/07/12) - Facts are Lacking as Lawmakers Tackle ‘Crisis’ Over Voter IDs
(The Virginian-Pilot, 02/07/12) - The NYPD’s Muslim Profiling Problem Gets Worse
(Mother Jones, 02/06/12) - Editorial: Keeping Virginians From Voting
(Washington Post, 02/05/12)
What We’re Reading Today: Stop Colbert
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.
A roundup with the latest news highlighting the corrosive nature of money in New York State politics — and the need for public financing and robust campaign finance reform.
Looking Around the World for Inspiration: Voter Registration
Chile modernized its voter registration system this week. But a first-rate democracy like the U.S. still lags behind.
Illustrations by Risko
Fighting Foreclosure
In this multi-part video series, homeowners speak about the devastating consequences of facing the loss of a home without an attorney. Based on interviews conducted around the country, the videos feature homeowners, legal aid lawyers, housing counselors, and community leaders.
Fighting Foreclosure: Why Legal Assistance Matters is a project of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law and the National Coalition for the Civil Right to Counsel. The series was produced by Sarah P. Reynolds.
What We’re Reading Today: Stop Colbert
A daily round-up of quick hits, clips, and opinion pieces touching on key issues of democracy, justice, liberty and national security.