FRC Action: Senate's Rejection of DISCLOSE Act is a Victory for Free Speech Rights

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Jul 27, 2010, 05:56 ET

WASHINGTON, July 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- FRC Action, the legislative advocacy arm of the Family Research Council, released the following statement after the U.S. Senate failed to reach cloture on the DISCLOSE Act, which would limit free speech for organizations during election cycles.

Among the bill's requirements is that organizations must list their top five donors on a television advertisement, regardless of whether or not those donors contributed to the particular campaign.

FRC Action Senior Vice President Tom McClusky made the following comments:

"The Senate's rejection of the DISCLOSE Act is a victory for free speech rights and for the democratic process. Liberals in Congress failed in their attempt to push through legislation which only amounts to Democrat incumbent protection legislation disguised as campaign finance reform.

"Instead of addressing the problems often found in the financing of campaigns, the DISCLOSE Act would add to the already onerous burdens placed on organizations that act within the law by going after their donors and exposing them in public forums. The exceptions, or 'carve-outs,' in this unconstitutional bill demonstrate the hypocrisy of its supporters. They provide special treatment for select special interest groups in a bill supposedly designed to crack down on the power of special interests.

"The leadership of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on this legislation has solidified him as the leading champion of the First Amendment in the U.S. Senate," concluded McClusky.

SOURCE Family Research Council Action