U.S. Chamber Calls Passage of DISCLOSE Act an Assault on Freedom of Speech

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement on House passage of the DISCLOSE Act:

“The Democratic majority in the House jammed through a piece of legislation that clearly violates the Constitution, as well as basic principles of fairness and equity. The Supreme Court calls it ‘viewpoint discrimination,’ and every first-year law student knows that it’s illegal.

“They only achieved passage of this bill by making backroom deals and exempting some of the most powerful special interest groups in the country—and specifically allowing unions to mask the movement of their political money.

“Citizens are appalled that with a faltering economy, massive unemployment, and an unfolding environmental disaster, Congress is focusing on protecting their own jobs first. A wide array of organizations from across the political spectrum are rightly lining up to oppose this offensive piece of legislation. We trust that the Senate will do the right thing and dismiss it out-of-hand.”

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

# # #