Legislation

State (Illinois) Legislation

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Federal Legislation

 

Disclose Act H.R. 5175

 The US House of Representatives voted 219 to 206 to approve H.R. 5175, which National Right to Life and other pro-life and pro-family groups have condemned as a threat to free speech in the political process. They are joined by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in opposition to the Disclose Act.

 Douglas Johnson, National Right to Life's Legislative Director, stated, "This is a blatant attack on our organizations, member and donors. National Right to Life will do everything possible to keep this bill from coming out of the Senate. The Senate has its own version (S 3295) of the bill. I think we have to take it very seriously. There are already 50 cosponsors of the bill in the Senate, but the Senate has different rules, and we will certainly do our best to persuade any Senator who will listen, that this bill is unconstitutional, unprincipled and nakedly partisan."

Should the Senate approve the Disclose Act, and should it be signed into law by President Obama, the act would take effect in 30 days, even if the Federal Elections Commission has not yet crafted new guidelines - just in time for the mid-term elections in November. This presents a legal mine field that organizations would have a difficult time navigating.

Under the bill, all groups subject to the law's requirements would have to list all donors of $600 or more with the Federal Election commission  (FEC). These groups would have to post a hyperlink on their website to the FEC, where a list of the names of their donors could be accessed.  

Other affected entities under the bill will likely include vocal liberal and conservative groups that communicate through the internet. While traditional media organizations like newspapers and television stations are exempt from the bill, bloggers, the vanguard of the "new media", are not. This bill is a muzzle bill for Tea Parties and pro-lifers. It's all about the elections, just as McCain Feingold was. The Supreme Court overturned McCain Feingold after Barack Obama was elected. Now we have the Disclose Act. We are in mid-term elections.

Our founding fathers were very clear in protecting the people from tyranny. The Articles of Confederation addressed the problem with mid-term elections. This is why a president is elected for a 4 year term, US House of Representatives every 2 years, and the Senate in alternating 6 year terms of office. With this framework, no branch of the government gains total control of the people.

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The IFRL is the largest grassroots pro-life organization in Illinois. A non-profit organization, that serves as the state coordinating body for local pro-life chapters representing thousands of Illinois citizens working to restore respect for all human life in our society. The IFRL is composed of people of different political persuasions, various faiths and diverse economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Since 1973 the Illinois Federation for Right to Life has been working to end abortion and restore legal protection to those members of the human family who are threatened by abortion, infanticide and euthanasia. Diverse though we are, we hold one common belief - that every human being has an inalienable right to life that is precious and must be protected. IFRL is dedicated to restoring the right to life to the unborn, and protection for the disabled and the elderly.   Click here to learn more about the IFRL.