Dec. 2, 2015, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement again urging Congress to include a rider by House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) that would block the Department of Justice legal settlement monies from going to third-party groups in the upcoming omnibus appropriations legislation:
“Unless the Obama Justice Department has legal settlements in the offing that would compel businesses to give far left-wing groups lots of money, there is absolutely no reason anyone should oppose the Goodlatte rider. If there is money in the offing for third-party groups from the settlements, it should be defunded. If there might be money in the offing in the future, it should be defunded. If it is not included in the omnibus because Obama had plans to give money to those groups though settlements, then that proves why it should be defunded.
“The $17 billion Bank of America settlement is a perfect example of the misuse of settlements as Bank of America was required to give millions of dollars to third party activist groups. Legal proceedings by the government must never be used as shakedowns to enrich the coffers of any political cause, regardless of ideology.
“This particular rider was in the Commerce, Science and Justice appropriations bill that passed the House without even being subjected to a recorded vote. There is no excuse for Rep. Goodlatte’s common sense amendment to not being including the omnibus spending bill.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at 703-383-0880 ext. 106 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Rick Manning.
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