Press Releases

Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s Senior Republican member, issued the following statement today after opposing H.R. 5157, the DISCLOSE Act, legislation to restrict and federally regulate free speech in national elections:

“Once again backroom deals and special interest carve-outs are the price Democrats willingly pay to pass legislation that is both unpopular and constitutionally suspect. Democrats’ rhetoric about the integrity of elections stands in sharp contrast to their blatant preservation of the political influence exercised by labor bosses and large special interests. The Democrats’ bill violates not only the First Amendment, but also the fundamental principle of equal justice for all under the law.

“In January, the U.S. Supreme Court issued an important decision to help restore the constitutional right of every American to join associations and express support or opposition for political candidates. In contrast, the Democrats’ legislation is driven by cold political calculations that rationing speech will pay electoral dividends this fall.”

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