A Sad Day for Free Speech in Our Country

Press Release

A controversial, and some say unconstitutional, measure to limit the free speech rights of certain groups passed narrowly in the U.S. House of Representatives today with last minute arm twisting by Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The DISCLOSE Act, opposed by 438 First Amendment, civil rights, environmental and business associations, bans political speech close to elections by certain groups while carving out huge exemptions for other special interest lobbies.

Politically connected labor unions, for example, will be able to secretly transfer campaign cash among their affiliates without publicly reporting their actions while the National Rifle Association, AARP and a few select lobby groups are granted greater free speech rights than others. The measure was rushed to the floor in response to a recent Supreme Court decision that struck down as unconstitutional a federal law that granted certain businesses greater First Amendment rights than others.

"With their blatant assault on the First Amendment and insistence that free speech does not apply to all Americans equally, historians will look back and identify this day as the day Democrats lost all moral authority to govern our nation," said U.S. Congressman Kevin Brady (R-Texas). "Any member of Congress who voted for this bill should be ashamed of abandoning the principle of free speech for all and embracing special rights to a favored few - all in a naked grab to maintain power. America, welcome to the new Democratic party."

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