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Institute for Free Speech
David Keating is the president of the Institute for Free Speech.
Meet the reformer: David Keating, leader for the right on money in politics
Sep 25 2020
Closing in on nine years as president of the Institute for Free Speech, David Keating long ago cemented his status as one of the foremost conservative forces in the money-in-politics debate. The nonprofit's aim is to safeguard First Amendment rights, particularly unfettered political speech, and views deregulation of campaign finance as central to that goal. Keating took charge after a similar group he started, SpeechNow.org, won a federal lawsuit to end donation and spending limits on independent political groups — thus creating super PACs. He had top posts at two prominent fiscal conservative organizations, the Club for Growth and the National Taxpayers Union, earlier in a D.C. advocacy career dating to the 1980s. His answers have been edited for length and clarity.
What's democracy's biggest challenge, in 10 words or less?
Stopping government from discouraging dissent.
<p><strong>Describe your very first civic engagement.</strong></p><p>In high school, I learned about machine politics. My friends who wanted to become summer lifeguards had to be Republicans. I thought that was ridiculous, so I decided to register as an independent. Still am.</p><p><p style="text-align: center;" id="sufn"><a style="font-weight: bold;margin:40px auto;font-size:2rem" href="https://thefulcrum.us/st/newsletters">Sign up for The Fulcrum newsletter </a></p></p><p><strong>What was your biggest professional triumph?</strong></p><p>Being appointed in 1996 to the National Commission on Restructuring the IRS, a bipartisan group of tax experts. We surprised many when we reached a broad consensus. Unlike most such reports that gather dust, ours was turned into a bill that became law. It included my recommendations to strengthen taxpayers' rights when interacting with the IRS and to protect innocent people from being forced to pay taxes owed by any tax-cheating former spouses.</p><p>Many of my most rewarding experiences have come in volunteer work. Ten years ago my SpeechNow won the case allowing independent groups to fundraise freely. This year I became a director of Masks4All and saw 85 percent of the nation adopt mask requirements to fight Covid-19.</p><p><strong>And your most disappointing setback?</strong></p><p>Failure to advance through Congress a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced federal budget. Two times in the 1990s we came up just one vote short in the Senate. Still, our campaign helped spur the first annual budget surplus in nearly four decades, starting in 1998 and lasting until the Sept. 11 attacks.</p><p><strong>How does your identity influence the way you go about your work?</strong></p><p>I identify as an independent person. I'm a registered independent in part because I don't trust either party on key issues. Too many people focus too much on "what's best for my team," either red or blue, which affects their ability to think clearly.</p><p>To promote and defend independent thought, much of my professional work has been protecting the freedoms to speak, publish, join groups and petition government for redress of grievances. Without these freedoms, we can't obtain the information we need to understand the world or act effectively to make it a better place.</p><p><strong>What's the best advice you've ever been given?</strong></p><p>Be a lifelong learner.</p><p><strong>Create a new flavor for Ben & Jerry's.</strong></p><p>Freedom of Peach.</p><p><strong>What is your favorite TV show or movie about politics?</strong></p><p> "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," the 1975 Oscar winner for best picture, about rebellion in a mental institution.</p><p><strong>What's the last thing you do on your phone at night?</strong></p><p>Turn on the bedside clock app.</p><p><strong>What is your deepest, darkest secret? </strong></p><p>I think Dave Chappelle and Anthony Jeselnik are hilarious. But don't tell my wife.</p>
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News. Community. Debate. Levers for better democracy.
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Webinar: How to make sure your vote counts
Webinar rewind: How to make sure your vote counts
Sep 24 2020
With legal fights over the election being waged across the country and disinformation clouding the truth about voting systems, Americans can be forgiven for their confusion about how to cast a ballot this fall. Because each state sets its own rules — for registering, getting and returning vote-by-mail ballots, timetables for balloting in person and so many other things — keeping it all straight can be difficult for both voting rights advocates and individual voters.
<p>The Fulcrum hosted a live discussion in which we discussed the realities of voting during the coronavirus pandemic and resources that you can share with friends and family.</p><p>The discussion was moderated by The Fulcrum's editor-in-chief, David Hawkings, and featured:</p><ul class="ee-ul"></ul><ul class="ee-ul"><li><strong>David Levine</strong>, elections integrity fellow, Alliance for Securing Democracy</li><li><strong>Jack Noland</strong>, research manager, RepresentUs</li><li><strong>Eliza Sweren-Becker</strong>, Democracy Program counsel, Brennan Center for Justice</li></ul>
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How Will a Disputed Election Impact the Economy and the Financial Markets?
Sep 23 2020
Organizer: Reform Elections Now
The 2020 election could result in a stalemate, or worse. Donald Trump should lead on election night, but as mail-in votes are counted, Joe Biden could gain a lead. These mail-in votes could take weeks or months to count. Election results could be challenged. Republican legislatures in swing states could approve slates of Trump electors, while Democratic governors in the same states approve slates of Biden electors, leaving both sides with less than 270 electoral votes.
Loopholes in the 12th, 17th and 20th amendments could lead to an impasse in Congress. Nancy Pelosi, as third in line, could claim the presidency. The Senate could approve Mike Pence as vice president, who then would claim the presidency. Protests and chaos could erupt. With disorder, Trump could invoke the Emergency Powers Act and indicate he would remain as president until the emergency has ended. With counting continuing, Biden could claim he has won the election and should be president. Meanwhile, a bipartisan group in Congress could try to resolve the impasse by invoking the 20th amendment and appointing George W. Bush and Al Gore as interim president and vice president.
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If this stalemated scenario plays out, how should investors and businesspeople react? This webinar will attempt to answer that question and more.
Location: Webinar