Bush Agency Pushes Ruthless Speech Restrictions
More than 4,200 Drug Policy Alliance members and fellow reformers responded to our February 6th Action Alert demanding that the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reject a proposal to restrict the free speech of nonprofits. Though the thousands of faxes that flooded Congress helped stall the government's plans, a new proposal, much broader and harsher than the earlier one, is now under consideration by the FEC.
Send a free email message by April 9 to the FEC telling them you oppose their assault on free speech!!
The Alliance thanks the thousands of you who wrote to Congress criticizing previous FEC and IRS attempts to abolish our free-speech rights. But we need your help now more than ever!!
Under the FEC's Political Committee Status Rule, the Drug Policy Alliance and other advocacy groups could be barred from communicating with you and other fellow reformers about the political actions of federal officials up for re-election. This is one of the worst proposed assaults on the freedom of speech and association ever considered in the United States! Communications just like this one could be banned!
Public comments are due by April 9!!!
The FEC rule would prevent the Drug Policy Alliance and other advocacy groups from contacting our supporters about the political actions of federal officials who are up for re-election. It could provide members of Congress with a green light to introduce and pass harmful drug policies while they are up for re-election and make it against the law for the Alliance to run advertisements in a newspaper or send out email alerts like this one.
The chilling effect of the FEC proposal on free speech cannot be overstated. It is an unacceptable and unconstitutional intrusion upon the free-speech rights of nonprofits and the general public.
1) Email the Federal Election Commission. Use our pre-written form to tell them that you oppose to the Federal Election Commission's ("FEC") Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ("NPRM") with regard to Political Committee Status. DO IT TODAY!! If you do not respond to this urgent alert, the controversial proposals will likely be adopted, endangering the future of the Alliance and all other nonprofit organizations working for freedom in America.
2) Forward this alert to friends and family.
3) Read comments submitted to the FEC on April 5 by the Drug Policy Alliance.
Learn More
Contact the Drug Policy Alliance:
Drug Policy Alliance 70 West 36th Street, 16th Floor New York, NY 10018
or
DrugPolicy.org
-------------------- The proof is in the pudding.
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I sent a letter, but I'm not sure how much good it's going to do. Bush's buddies have never given a rat's ass about what people think.
I have a feeling that the FEC is going to adopt the proposal and then it's going to have to be fought in the courts. No doubt it will eventually get struck down as unconstitutional, but I think Bush's crew are counting on that not happening until after November.
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