Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Call Congress to oppose DISCLOSE Act

From the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC):

The U.S. House of Representatives may vote within days on the so-called "DISCLOSE Act," legislation that would place sweeping new restrictions on the ability of incorporated groups, including NRLC and MCCL, to communicate with the public about the actions of federal lawmakers.

According to press reports, the House Democratic leadership has agreed to add a narrow "carve out" that will effectively exempt the National Rifle Association (NRA) from some of the key restrictions in the bill, in return for which the NRA has agreed that it "will not be involved in final consideration of the House bill."

In a June 15 letter to House members, posted here (in PDF format, here), NRLC reiterated its strong opposition to the bill, which it called "pernicious, unprincipled, and unconstitutional legislation." Regarding the proposed carve out, "With respect to the National Right to Life Committee, this amendment is not only worthless, but adds insult to injury," the letter said, adding that NRLC's congressional scorecard will describe a vote for the bill as a vote for "a blatant political attack on the First Amendment rights of NRLC, our state affiliates, and our members and donors."

For more details on the danger posed by the "DISCLOSE Act," see the alert published on page 1 of the June edition of National Right to Life News, posted here.

Press reports indicate that the House Democratic leadership now plans to force a House floor vote on the bill as early as Thursday, June 17. Please act immediately.

Click here and enter your zip code into the "Call Now" box. Then telephone the office of the lawmaker who represents you in the House, using the number you will be shown. Use the suggested talking points to deliver the message that you are strongly opposed to this bill. (You don't have to use all of the suggestions -- the important thing is to get the main point across.) Ask how your representative intends to vote on the bill.