Equal Justice Coalition

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The Equal Justice Coalition (EJC), is a right-wing 501(c)3 nonprofit based out of Long Beach, California and associate member of the State Policy Network (SPN).[1] The organization shares its name with a few other nonprofit groups. According to its website, the Equal Justice Coalition supports repealing the 17th Amendment, which established the popular election of U.S. Senators.[2]

This page is not related to the Washington-based Equal Justice Coalition, a nonpartisan grassroots organization working to ensure low-income people have access to legal aid.

Ties to SPN

Equal Justice Coalition is an associate member of SPN. EJC's President Jay Feinberg has delivered workshops with current SPN member the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs and former SPN member the Claremont Institute.

Ties to ALEC

ALEC Introduces Model Bill on Constitutional Amendment to Elect US Senators in State Legislatures

On July 21, 2017, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) introduced a model resolution entitled, "Draft Resolution Recommending Constitutional Amendment Restoring Election Of U.S. Senators To The Legislatures Of The Sovereign States" that included a copy of the same resolution posted on the EJC website. The resolution calls for an Amendment to the Constitution that repeals the 17th Amendment which requires U.S. Senators to be elected through a popular vote and states that "Senators shall be elected exclusively by the State legislature."[3]

ALEC Hosts Workshop on Constitutional Amendment to Elect US Senators in State Legislatures

ALEC Workshop

During its 2016 States and Nation Policy Meeting in Washington, D.C., ALEC hosted a workshop on repealing the 17th Amendment to the Constitution which requires that Senators be elected through a popular vote.[4] The "workshop" included Jay Feinberg, President of EJC; John C. Eastman, Founding Director of the Claremont Institute's Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence; and Trent England of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.[4] The speakers argued for a 28th Amendment to the Constitution that would require U.S. Senators be elected by State legislatures.[4]

About ALEC
ALEC is a corporate bill mill. It is not just a lobby or a front group; it is much more powerful than that. Through ALEC, corporations hand state legislators their wishlists to benefit their bottom line. Corporations fund almost all of ALEC's operations. They pay for a seat on ALEC task forces where corporate lobbyists and special interest reps vote with elected officials to approve “model” bills. Learn more at the Center for Media and Democracy's ALECexposed.org, and check out breaking news on our ExposedbyCMD.org site.

History

The Equal Justice Coalition describes the history of the organization on its site,

"Equal Justice Coalition is a Washington non-profit corporation founded in 1984 by Jayne Anderson and other concerned citizens who support equal justice for all citizens before judicial and legislative entities. Her daughter, Victoria Howard Simmons, Vice President and Director, has expanded the scope of its activities to address the disenfranchisement of the States by the 17th Amendment."[5]

However, IRS filings for the organization go back to 2015 and the address listed on its filings is for Long Beach, California, not Washington.[6]

Core Financials

2016[7]

  • Total Revenue: $49,000
  • Total Expenses: $46,575
  • Net Assets: $2,425

2015[8]

  • Total Revenue: $0
  • Total Expenses: $0
  • Net Assets: $0

Personnel

According to the organization's 2015 tax filing:[9]

  • Jay Feinberg, President and Treasurer
  • Victoria Howard, VP and Secretary

Contact

Employer Identification Number (EIN): 81-0701129

Equal Justice Coalition
4380-B E. Pacific Coast Highway
Long Beach, California 90803
Website: http://www.equaljusticecoalition.net/
Email: equaljusticecoalition@gmail.com
Phone: (562).496.8181

References

  1. State Policy Network, Directory, organizational website, accessed June 29, 2017.
  2. Equal Justice Coalition, About, organizational website, accessed June 29, 2016.
  3. ALEC, Draft Resolution Recommending Constitutional Amendment Restoring Election Of U.S. Senators To The Legislatures Of The Sovereign States, ALEC, July 21, 2017.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Jay Feinberg, ALEC Workshop, YouTube, January 18, 2017.
  5. Equal Justice Coalition, About, Equal Justice Coalition, 2017.
  6. CitizenAudit, Equal Justice Coalition, CitizenAudit, 2017.
  7. Equal Justice Coalition, 2016 IRS 990EZ Form, Equal Justice Coalition, February 13, 2017.
  8. Equal Justice Coalition, 2015 IRS 990EZ Form, Equal Justice Coalition, May 1, 2016.
  9. Equal Justice Coalition, 2015 IRS Form 990, Internal Revenue Service, May 9, 2016.