Ranking Republican on House Admin Calls House Passage of DISCLOSE Act Legislative Trespassing on Constitutional Rights

WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on House Administration's Ranking Republican Dan Lungren, R-Calif., issued the following statement on the House passage of the DISCLOSE Act:

"The House passage of the DISCLOSE Act is nothing short of legislative trespassing on the constitutionally protected rights of American citizens. And what's worse is that it's intentional. House Democrats have intentionally designed this bill to selectively stifle free speech for their own political gain.

"With this legislation, Democrats are attempting to deny First Amendment rights to certain organizations by imposing burdensome, costly restrictions on their ability to speak. They're trying to implement exactly what the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against - restrictions on free speech distinguishing among different speakers, allowing speech by some but not others.

"Ironically named the DISCLOSE Act, this partisan, unpopular legislation is a result of closed-door negotiations that have excluded Republicans charged with election oversight, the various stakeholders silenced by its provisions and, worst of all, American voters.

"Democrats have intentionally and unfairly auctioned off the First Amendment in the name of partisanship, and I strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to vote against this bill and uphold our obligation to protect the rights granted by the Constitution."

For more information, please contact the Committee press office at (202) 225-8281.

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