ACTION REQUEST

All pro-life House members need to hear clearly from pro-life constituents from within their own districts that restrictions such as those on page 22 are unacceptable, and that votes for or against such restrictions will be given heavy weight in evaluating the records of incumbent lawmakers.

While all pro-life lawmakers should be contacted, two groups are especially pivotal:

*The 74 Republicans who voted for the Thomas "reform" bill on March 30. (,See "74 House Members Vote for Bill to Place Some Restrictions on Free Speech About Politicians," April 14 NRL News, page 9.) The Thomas bill contained some provisions similar to the Hutchinson bill. Some lawmakers voted for the Thomas bill because they knew it would not pass - - but there is real danger that the Hutchinson bill could pass.

*All pro-life Democrats. Many of the House's pro-life Democrats demanded "full debate" on the campaign finance reform issue. Now, however, they will be voting directly on measures that would severely restrict the right of NRLC, NRLC affiliates, and other groups to communicate with the public about the voting records and positions on issues of members of Congress and other candidates.

Urge the Congressmen and Congresswomen to:

Oppose the Shays-Meehan bill (HR 3526) and the Asa Hutchinson "freshman" bill (HR 2183), or any other so-called "campaign reform" proposal that restricts, rations, or regulates the free speech of citizens, citizen groups, or political parties.

Extensive additional information regarding the importance of preserving free speech about politicians is available at the NRLC website at www.nrlc.org. We will disseminate updates as the House debate approaches. Please call the NRLC Federal Legislative Office with feedback on the positions of specific House members on the Shays-Meehan and Hutchinson bills, including reports that appear in the local press. Phone: (202) 626-8820. Fax: (202) 347-3668. E-mail: Legfederal@aol.com.