WASHINGTON
(February 9) - - The ability of NRLC and other pro-life groups to tell the
public about the positions of specific politicians on pro-life issues would
be severely restricted by several so-called "campaign reform"
proposals that will be voted on by the U.S. House and U.S. Senate in late
February and March.
These bills to restrict free speech about politicians are being pushed by
powerful members of Congress of both political parties, in alliance with
President Clinton and well-funded special-interest groups such as the League
of Women Voters and Common Cause.
Senate Situation
Soon - - probably the week of February 23 - - the Senate will take up the Clinton-backed "campaign reform" bill proposed by Senators John McCain (R-Az.) and Russ Feingold (D-Wi.).
The McCain-Feingold bill (S. 25) has gone through
numerous versions, but every one - - including the version that the Senate
will soon debate - - would severely restrict the right of NRLC and NRLC
affiliates (and other issue-oriented groups) to communicate with the public
about politicians' positions and voting records.
When the Senate last considered the McCain-Feingold bill last October, a
majority of senators (all 45 Democrats, plus seven Republicans) voted to
advance the bill - - but it was blocked by a filibuster led by pro-life
Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.). [See Oct. 21 NRL News, page 12,
for the Senate roll calls on the McCain-Feingold bill.]
When the Senate returns to the issue in late February, Sen. McConnell plans
once again to lead the fight to prevent the Senate from passing the McCain-Feingold
bill. Your help is needed!
Action Request for Senate
Telephone the
offices of your two U.S. senators - - both in Washington, D.C., and within
the state. The Washington offices can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard
at (202) 224-3121. In-state office numbers are available from local information.
Your message should be along these lines: "I am a constituent of Senator
_______ and I am strongly opposed to the McCain-Feingold bill. I urge the
Senator to vote against any version of the McCain-Feingold
bill. I believe the First Amendment protects the right of all groups to
speak to the public about politicians' positions on issues. I would like
to get a letter explaining how Senator __________ plans to vote on the McCain-Feingold
bill."
Action Request for House
The House of Representatives is expected to take
up various "campaign reform" bills sometime in March. Please write
to your U.S. House member:
The Honorable __________
House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Your message should be along these lines: "I believe that Americans
have a right to free speech about politicians. I am opposed to any so-called
'campaign reform' legislation that would restrict the right of pro-life
groups, such as National Right to Life, to speak freely to the public regarding
the positions and voting records of officeholders and officeseekers. For
example, the bills proposed by Congressman Baesler (HR 1366), Congressman
Gephardt (HR 2777), and Congressman Asa Hutchinson (HR 2183) all contain
provisions that would violate the free-speech rights of pro-life groups.
I strongly urge you to vote against all such bills."
Resources on Free Speech about Politicians
NRLC has produced a number of articles and papers
that explain how many of the current proposals for "campaign reform"
would greatly restrict the ability of NRLC, NRLC affiliates, and other pro-life
groups and pro-family groups to engage in free speech about politicians,
thereby crippling the pro-life movement's ability to advance pro-life policies.
(See, for example, "Do American Voters Need Speech Nannies?" Sept.
30, 1997 NRL News, page 1, and "The New McCain-Feingold Bill's
Year-Round Speech Bans," Oct. 21, 1997, NRL News, page 13.)
A detailed analysis of the McCain-Feingold bill, and extensive additional
documentation on "campaign reform" bills to restrict free speech
about politicians, are available in the "Campaign Reform and Free Speech"
section on the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org/campaign.html.
Letters to Editors
You can help educate the public about this issue by writing a letter (usually 250-300 words is about right) to the "letters to the editor" columns of your local newspapers, explaining how the McCain-Feingold bill and similar bills would restrict the right of pro-life groups and other citizen groups to speak freely regarding the voting records and positions of members of Congress and candidates for Congress. Emphasize that these bills are strongly opposed by groups as diverse as NRLC, the ACLU, the Christian Coalition, and the NRA.
Please Help NRLC's Lobbying Efforts
You can greatly assist NRLC's lobbying efforts by sending copies of any letters from members of Congress dealing with this or any other pro-life issue, and pertinent stories and editorials from local newspapers, to: NRLC Federal Legislative Office, 419-Seventh Street, Northwest, Suite 500, Washington, D.C. 20004. Fax (202) 347-3668, e-mail: Legfederal@aol.com. Legislative Update Recording: (202) 393-5433.