Sept. 8, 2014, Fairfax, Va.—Americans for Limited Government President Nathan Mehrens today issued the following statement in opposition to S.J. Res. 19 offered by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) that would repeal and replace the First Amendment, currently up for debate in the U.S. Senate:
“Senate Democrats are taking up legislation that would abolish the freedom of speech under the First Amendment, and in the process empower Congress and the states to regulate the amount of money that may be spent in elections. If passed, the net result will simply be less speech against incumbent politicians, hardly a free and democratic outcome. Why would Congress want to restrict access to information about opposition candidates during election time? This is fascism, pure and simple.
“In the meantime, Democrats seek to carve out an exception for mainstream media outlets including broadcasting stations, newspapers, magazines, and other periodical publications by saying nothing in the amendment will be construed to abridge the freedom of the press. The trouble here is that the freedom of the press is not an institutional right retained by some amorphous press corps, but a right of individuals to print what they like.
“This bastardization of the First Amendment must not be allowed to pass. Every single Senator should block cloture, and defend every American’s right to the freedom of speech and of the press. It’s hard enough to oust incumbent, entrenched, establishment politicians. They do not need the force of law to squelch opposition, and it is sickening they would even try.”
Interview Availability: Please contact Americans for Limited Government at (202)744-4427 or at media@limitgov.org to arrange an interview with ALG experts including ALG President Nathan Mehrens.
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