Week in Review: Violent Threats because of Political Speech

February 16, 2019

Violent threats, road rage, and property destruction. One witness after the next took the stand in a Denver courtroom this month to testify about the ideological harassment they regularly endure, all because of their political speech.

The case centered on the right of 501(c)(3) and (c)(4) nonprofit groups to protect their donors from being put on a government list and having their addresses, occupations, and employers published on the internet. The witnesses spoke about what is at stake—and how individuals are at risk—when government forces nonprofits to reveal donor identities for everyone to see.

Goldwater Institute Senior Attorney Matt Miller, who serves as lead attorney on the case, wrote about the trial on the In Defense of Liberty blog. Read more about the facts of the case, the outcome, and what’s at stake for Americans whose privacy rights are under assault.

Here’s How Right to Try is Changing Navy Pilot Matt Bellina’s Life

When President Trump signed Right to Try into law in May 2018, it was an important step in helping terminally ill patients access investigational treatments that might save their lives. Now, stories of patient treatment under the federal Right to Try law are beginning to emerge.

Goldwater Institute Executive Vice President Christina Sandefur appeared on the Fox Business program “Varney & Co.” to talk about one of those stories—Navy Pilot Matt Bellina, who is receiving treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Watch as she explains how Right to Try can help change the lives of patients for the better—and giving them hope.

Putting Arizona’s Empty Schools to Use Can Improve Education and Save Money

Enrollment in Arizona’s public schools—including both charter and traditional district schools—has grown by more than 25 percent since 2000. Yet more than 1.4 million square feet of school district building space currently sits vacant or is underutilized.

The good news is, those empty schools can be put to valuable use, which would benefit students and Arizona taxpayers, as a new report from the Goldwater Institute and the Arizona Chamber Foundation reveals. Read more about what Goldwater Institute Director of Education Policy Matt Beienburg learned the report here.