Press Release on Our Free Speech Coalition Letter

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the House of Representatives preparing to vote on a lobbying reform bill that will ultimately include dramatic restrictions on speech, leaders of sixty-five of the nation's leading conservative organizations released a letter today calling on members of the House and Senate to oppose any bill that forces 527 organizations to become PACs.

"The outcry from the conservative community against this move to suppress free speech is loud and unified," said Pat Toomey, President of the Club for Growth, the nation's leading pro-growth advocacy organization with more than 35,000 members. "With a congressional majority potentially hanging in the balance this fall, Republicans in Congress ignore the concerns outlined in this letter at their peril."

The open letter to members of Congress outlines the strong opposition the signers, and the millions of citizens they represent, have to efforts currently being considered by Congress to ban any communication over $1000 at any time by any method by any 527 group unless it becomes a PAC. Specifically, H.R. 513 and S. 1053 include this provision.

"Forcing 527 groups to become PACs will not only force free speech restrictions on any organization wishing to speak to the public about actions taken by Congress or stands taken by candidates," continued Toomey. "It will also drastically reduce transparency as money shifts to organizations that have far less reporting requirements than 527s currently do."

Under current law, other non-profit organizations such as labor unions, business associations and social welfare groups need not publicly disclose donations and expenditures.

"When you were sworn into office, you took an oath to 'support this Constitution,'" concludes the letter. "We ask you to faithfully uphold that oath by rejecting H.R. 513, S. 1053 and any other bill that restricts political free speech."

A copy of the coalition letter can be viewed here.