Club for Growth

Free Speech Action Center

Today we debut the Free Speech Action Center to inform and alert Americans about the House-approved bill that proposes a breathtaking assault on First Amendment free speech rights. The measure is now before the Senate, and before it can become law the Senate must approve it. The House would also likely have to vote again.

Since the House passage of H.R. 513, columnist George Will said the action was "traducing the Constitution and disgracing conservatism." Forbes Magazine called that bill "McCain-Feingold on steroids" and said "the move is like banning printing presses because your opponents use them to publish brochures criticizing you." The Rocky Mountain News called it "noxious legislation." Earlier, National Review said "There's nothing conservative about trying to regulate your opponent to defeat."

The provisions from H.R. 513 go far beyond the reviled prohibitions on ads imposed by the 2002 McCain-Feingold law. This unprecedented provision would ban any such ads placed anywhere at any time in any kind of medium by a 527 group unless sponsored by a highly-regulated PAC.

This legislation holds immense dangers to all nonprofit groups and all Americans. Please read the information and take action today to preserve your free speech rights.

COALITION LETTER
Our Coalition Letter (PDF) with 64 Other Conservative Groups

FACT SHEETS
The 527 Bill Puts 501c Groups at Risk (PDF) - Club for Growth
Fast Facts About 527 Groups (PDF) - Republican Study Committee
527 vs 501c4 Groups (PDF) - Republican Study Committee
Where Will 527s Go? (PDF) - Republican Study Committee

ARTICLES
Free Speech is Not Corruption - David Keating and Carl Pope, The Hill
McCain and 'the Constitution' - George Will, Real Clear Politics
The GOP's Betrayal On Speech - George Will, Washington Post
Campaign Finance Cynics ($) - Wall Street Journal Editorial
Cleaning House? ($) - Wall Street Journal Editorial
86 the Anti-527 Action - National Review Editorial
The GOP's Muzzle - Ryan Sager, Real Clear Politics
Attacking Free Speech: Republicans Go After the Left - New Hampshire Union Leader Editorial
What Next? Ban Elections? - Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine
Another Assault on Political Speech - Rocky Mountain News Editorial
Whittling Away Free Speech Rights, Bit by Bit - New York Sun Editorial
GOP & Free Speech - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial
How Does It Feel? - Andrew Cline, The American Spectator
Even Dems Don't Deserve Restrictions on Expression - John Samples, TwinCities.com

POLICY PAPERS
Analysis of HR 513 (PDF) - Laurence E. Gold, Lichtman, Trister and Ross, PLLC
Free Speech and the 527 Prohibition - Stephen Hoersting, Cato Institute

PRESS RELEASES
Club Joins 64 Other Groups to Oppose Free Speech Restrictions - Club for Growth
GOP Restricts Free Speech with Passage of 527 Bill - Club for Growth
Club Key Vote Alert Scores "NO" Votes On House, Senate 527 Bills - Club for Growth
ACLU Says "527" Rule Change Would Chill Political Advocacy - ACLU

BLOG POSTS BY BRAD SMITH, FORMER FEC CHAIRMAN
Did John McCain Take an Oath to Defend the Constitution? - Brad Smith, RedState.com
More on Stupid Republicans and 527s - Brad Smith, RedState.com
French Republicans and the Washington Post - Brad Smith, RedState.com
Republican Must Read Before 527 Vote - Brad Smith, RedState.com
How to Lose a Majority - Brad Smith, RedState.com

OTHER BLOG POSTS
Boehner's Office Spreading FALSE Information About 527 Bill - Andy Roth, Club for Growth
Club and Allies vs. GOP Leadership - Andy Roth, Club for Growth
Republicans Flip-Flop on the Constitution - Andy Roth, Club for Growth
Worse Than the Alien and Sedition Acts - David Keating, Club for Growth
Cowards, All of Them - SaveTheGOP.com

KEY VOTES
Club for Growth
American Conservative Union
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste

LETTERS TO CONGRESS
Letter to Bill Frist - Senators Allen, Coburn, DeMint, Enzi, Vitter, Sununu, Brownback (PDF)
American Civil Liberties Union (PDF)

CONTACT CONGRESS
The Senate
The House of Representatives