Groups slam Disclose Act for killing free speech

A diverse group of 50 organizations ranging from the 60 Plus Association to Concerned Women for America and CatholicVote.org have come out opposing the Disclose Act championed by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.).

The group contends the bill threatens free speech because it requires the names of chief supporters for political ads to be disclosed.

"This inclusive treatment of organizational funding reveals that the intent of this legislation is not true disclosure — it is the intimidation of speech," states the group's release, which urges lawmakers to oppose the bill.

"The Disclose Act, while cleverly named, aims to silence political speech by intimidation and onerous regulation. Such efforts should be rejected swiftly," the release states.

Objection over the bill comes as Democratic leaders have brokered a deal with the National Rifle Association and other large organizations that exempts them from campaign finance disclosure rules.

The exemption pertains to organizations that receive a small percentage of their funds from corporations and labor unions and do not use any corporate or labor union money to pay their campaign-related expenditures. These organizations must also be in existence for at least 10 years and have at least 1 million members who paid dues to the organization during the previous year.