Two years ago the United States Supreme Court decided the landmark case of Citizens United v. FEC.  The Court reversed an anomaly in campaign finance law by restoring the First Amendment protection of political speech.

Over the past two years Citizens United’s victory has been the subject of countless attacks. It has inspired some members of Congress to attempt to pass legislation to chill political speech, caused the President to chastise the Supreme Court during the State of the Union, and even led to irrational demands that we amend the Constitution to curtail the Freedom of Speech.

Despite the heated rhetoric, little in politics has changed.  Before Citizens United, candidates, independent groups and political parties ran political ads.  Shockingly, the same is true after Citizens United.  Some lament the amount of money spent on political speech, but as George Will has noted, Americans will spend more money on Easter candy than they spend electing a President.

The liberal drumbeat against the decision seems to be led by a group of leftist non-profit organizations.  These groups, with such good governance names as Democracy Unlimited, Democracy 21, Public Citizen, and Common Cause, are fighting to overturn the First Amendment.

(more…)

This year, with our new film The Gift Of Life in the forefront of my mind, I have been thinking about how thankful I am for life.  The film, hosted by the great advocate for life Governor Mike Huckabee, profiles some remarkable people with powerful pro-life stories and I am so grateful for their lives and the opportunity to share them with you.

The Gift Of Life features an incredible cast and I am thankful for each and every one of them.

I am thankful for pro-life leaders like Marjorie Dannenfelser, Kristan Hawkins, Carol Tobias, and Charmaine Yoest.  Groups like the Susan B. Anthony List, Student for Life of America, the National Right to Life Committee, and Americans United for Life are essential to educate, activate, and mobilize those of us on the side of life.

I am thankful that Carol Everett and Dr. Anthony Levatino, who were both responsible for the deaths of thousands of unborn babies, have seen the light and now use their incredible testimonies to change the minds of others.

I am thankful for Sandra Cano, the “Mary Doe” in Doe v. Bolton, for speaking out about the lies and deceptions of that Supreme Court decision and its companion case, Roe v. Wade.  Sandra tells us the truth about her pro-life beliefs and the way her case was manipulated.

I am thankful that Rebecca Kiessling and James Robison are both alive today after being conceived in rape, single parenthood, and adversity.  Their mothers were very close to choosing abortion but their lives were spared at the last moment.

I am thankful Chet McDoniel survived his delivery doctor’s attempt to let him die, by placing him in the corner of the room with minimal care.  Chet’s lack of arms and shortened legs have not held him back at all and he is living proof that no one has the right to judge the value of another’s life.

(more…)

When President Obama was elected he promised to usher in a new way of doing business in Washington.  Well past the half way point of his administration, it is clear that much like his promises of “Hope” and “Change” – a new Washington was little more than empty rhetoric.

Obama pledged to ban lobbyists from serving in his administration, but granted waivers to the lobbyists he wanted on his team.  He pledged to make the White House more transparent, by placing its visitor logs on the internet, but his clever staff hosted meetings with lobbyists at local coffee shops, free from the burdens of disclosure.  His reform rhetoric has masked the fact that his administration is actively doling out favors to entrenched special interests and his political supporters.

The most glaring example of President Obama’s “reformed” Washington, is how his political staff over stepped its boundaries to secure government support for a green energy startup funded by one of Obama’s biggest financial backers.  The startup was named Solyndra.  Financed by Obama funder George Kaiser, Solyndra produced solar panels for mounting on rooftops.  They sold a dream – that you could transform the large empty rooftop square footage into a lean, mean, energy producing machine.  This dream, much like Obama’s promises of hope and change, was never realized.

While the promise of Solyndra warms the hearts of the Al Gore’s of the world, the reality is that the business was flawed.  This was clear to Wall Street, this was clear to senior government officials, but this was not clear to the White House.

Solyndra sought funding to build a plant to produce its unique brand of solar panels.  It went to Wall Street, but was largely rebuffed.  The most optimistic response Solyndra received was from Dun & Bradstreet which rated the company as “fair.”  The ratings agency Fitch, rated Solyndra a B+, one of its most speculative ratings.  One distinct problem for Solyndra was the excessive cost of its unique solar panels.

Absent broad Wall Street support, Solyndra looked to the government for assistance.  During the Bush Administration Solyndra was denied loans by the Energy Department.  The Office of Management and Budget recognized that Solyndra was too high a risk to move forward.

Once the Obama Administration ushered in its new way of doing business in Washington, things started to look brighter for Solyndra.  Despite the Wall Street’s negative views of the company and its costly solar panels, Solyndra found support within Obama’s White House for its expansion plans.

(more…)

During the 2008 election campaign, then-Senator Barack Obama knocked fellow candidate John Edwards for benefiting from the same outside spending groups he criticized:

“So you can’t say yesterday you don’t believe in them, and today you have three quarters of a million dollars being spent on you. You can’t just talk the talk. The easiest thing in the world is to talk about change during election time.”

Priorities USA, a super PAC headed by Bill Burton – former Deputy Press Secretary at the Obama White House – launched a television ad campaign attacking Republicans today. A super PAC is a federal PAC that only makes independent expenditures in support or opposition of candidates. These super PACs were made possible because of the Citizens United and Speech Now cases.

President Obama made it a daily habit to bash the Citizens United v. FEC Supreme Court decision last year. From his weekly radio addresses to speeches on the stump, President Obama seemed obsessed with casting sinister aspersions on the decision. In one instance he ominously said, “But this summer, they’re also seeing a flood of attack ads run by shadowy groups with harmless-sounding names,” like Priorities USA perhaps!

(more…)

It is going to be a long hot summer as Congress and the Obama Administration debate how best to bring down America’s $14 trillion debt. Our crushing debt is as much a national security threat as it is an economic disaster. Many nations own our enormous amounts of debt, some of these entities are nefarious in nature – like China, Russia, and OPEC. If these nations sell off our debt, they can wield great power over America.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, said last year, “The most significant threat to our national security is our debt.” The Obama Administration must find a way to cut trillions – not billions – when it comes to our crippling debt. America is at a crossroads, where we can act boldly now, or put our security at risk by doing nothing.

According to President Obama’s own budget, interest payments for the national debt will quadruple from $186.9 billion in 2009 to $768.2 billion in 2020. That equals $2,500 for every man, woman, and child to pay off just the interest to our national debt every year. The American taxpayer will be drowning in the interest we pay. Remember, the $768.2 billion Americans will be paying in 2020 does not bring down our national debt; it just pays off the interest the debt has accrued!

(more…)

In Citizens United v. FEC the Supreme Court rejected the idea that the government may determine whose speech is worthy of protection under the First Amendment. As a result of the decision, individuals, small businesses, corporations, labor unions, and non-profit organizations may all engage in political speech. It is not the bailiwick of government bureaucrats to judge and determine who should be allowed to speak. As Chief Justice John Roberts has remarked: “We don’t put our First Amendment rights in the hands of FEC bureaucrats.” Citizens United appropriately limited the government’s ability to regulate and prohibit speech.

Another case that questions the ability of the government to regulate speech is currently before the Supreme Court: Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club PAC v. Bennett. This case deals with Arizona’s “clean elections” campaign financing system.

There have been many attempts to create systems where the government subsidizes campaigns. Most label these systems “public financing,” but in reality they are anything but. The truest form of “public financing” is a system in which citizens can voluntarily contribute to those candidates which they support. Each and every government subsidized system undermines the sovereignty of the American people.

The most recognizable of these systems is the presidential financing system, which allows individuals to make a voluntary contribution to help finance presidential campaigns when filing their annual tax return. Once a candidate agrees to participate in this financing system they must adhere to guidelines established by the federal government. As the flaws of this system have become more apparent, even liberal politicians like Barack Obama have opted out of the system. In seeking to trim waste from the federal budget, Republican Members of Congress have attempted to curtail this misguided program.

(more…)

America’s unsustainable $14 trillion debt will cripple our nation if we do not stop the spending.  The Obama Administration and Congressional Democrats appear to be unable to garner the strength to curb the debt problem.  One need look no further than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s plea earlier this week to save federal funds for a cowboy poetry festival in his home state of Nevada to see how seriously Democrats take spending taxpayer money.

Obamacare, which was signed into law nearly a year ago, will cost Americans at least a trillion dollars.  With our $14 trillion debt continuing to grow, America simply does not have the money to finance Obamacare.  The lackadaisical approach to cutting spending that the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress are taking is shameful.  The Republican-controlled House of Representatives must take the necessary steps to defund Obamacare in its entirety.

The House of Representatives has restricted funding through the appropriations process, but there appears to be $105.5 billion that has been automatically appropriated to fund Obamacare. The $105 billion is up-front spending that will help startup Obamacare.

This automatic funding is what happens when a bill of this magnitude is rushed through the Congress and not properly vetted, debated, or considered.  Obamacare is a 2,000 page law that no one bothered to read or understand.  The Obama Administration has already issued 1,000 waivers because of this confusion.  What happened last year is not how government is supposed to work.  If the House of Representatives does not act now, then the gravy train known as Obamacare will leave the station.

(more…)

The numbers being floated around by President Obama and Congressional Democrats during this year’s budget battle are all spin and sleight of hand. Not that this should surprise anyone – the President has a history of using smoke and mirrors – especially when it comes to taxpayer dollars.

Last year’s Democrat-controlled Congress failed to pass a budget for Fiscal Year 2011, so the government is currently being funded mostly at 2010 levels. While the administration claims it has offered to cut $51 billion, about $41 billion of that is based on a budget proposal that was never enacted, so the real number is closer to $10 billion. Compare this to House Republicans who voted in February to enact $61 billion in real cuts. Like most important legislative matters, the President has chosen not to lead, but to instead hide behind budget gimmicks to give the appearance that he is taking our fiscal crisis seriously.

The Obama Administration has used these kinds of budget tricks in the past, most notably when pushing Obamacare through early last year. Just last week, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius admitted at a hearing on Capitol Hill that the administration double counted $500 billion in Medicare cuts. When pressed by Congressman John Shimkus (R-Ill) on what the $500 billion was for – preserving Medicare or funding Obamacare – Secretary Sebelius unbelievably responded, “Both.” The shenanigans that the Obama Administration and Democrats in Congress pulled to pass Obamacare are finally coming to light and they are the same kind of tactics that the Obama Administration is employing in the current budget fight.

With less than ten legislative days to work out a deal, you would think the White House would be burning the midnight oil to avoid a shutdown. Last week, President Obama, in his infinite wisdom, appointed Vice President Joe Biden as the administration’s point person in the budget talks. One problem: the Vice President is going to Europe this week and will not be able to participate. Meanwhile, President Obama played his 60th round of golf this weekend. If President Obama is concerned about a government shutdown, he and his administration are certainly not showing it.

(more…)

President Obama’s FY-2012 budget shows a failure of leadership by a man who claimed that he would change the way Washington works. Red ink continues to be spilled at record rates with no end in sight and yet President Obama continues to ignore the 800 pound gorilla in the room – our climbing $14 trillion national debt.

America is sinking deeper and deeper into debt, but the President’s own budget projects that the federal debt will top $15 trillion this year – equal to the size of our entire economy – and will reach $21 trillion within five years time! President Obama’s budget will spend $3.8 trillion this year; that correlates to 25.3 percent of our Gross Domestic Product, the highest since World War II. The Democrat chairman of President Obama’s very own debt commission, Erskine Bowles, said the budget released today is “nowhere near where they have to go to resolve our fiscal nightmare.” America must get its fiscal house in order, or our economy will sink into a financial abyss.

President Obama states, “We need to act now to secure and strengthen Social Security for future generations,” but he fails to lay out a clear and precise plan on how he would reform Social Security and Medicare. These entitlement programs are draining America’s resources at an alarming rate. Nobody is saying that this is an easy fix, but not even addressing it in a budget plan is a serious oversight by the Obama Administration. President Obama has chosen his short term election prospects over doing what is right for future generations. He just continues to kick the debt crisis can down the road, but at some point that can will fall off the cliff. When that happens, the American people will remember this failure of leadership.

(more…)

Soon-to-be White House Press Secretary Jay Carney’s former employer Time Magazine has given President Obama a big thank you gift this week. Not only is President Obama on the cover of Time Magazine for the 24th time in little more than four years, but the editors are trying to portray Obama as the next Ronald Reagan. President Obama and President Reagan are polar opposites in both politics and style. For a struggling magazine, I guess putting Reagan on the cover is the only way to sell some copies. Time Magazine and the left will stop at nothing to prop up President Obama’s sagging presidency. Just over two years ago, Time portrayed President Obama as the next FDR on the cover of the magazine, but after the failure of Obama’s big government agenda, Time is jumping to have Obama reflect the country’s more conservative mood. These ploys are pathetic and desperate.

President Reagan served his country with a grace and style that cannot be matched, especially by the current occupant of the White House. He stood up to the Soviet Union by calling them the “evil empire” and courageously implored General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev to “tear down this wall.” President Obama used his most recent State of the Union address to tell us how great communist China is and how Americans are lagging behind the Chinese in innovation. President Obama does not believe in American Exceptionalism. If he did, he would not have said “…America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.” President Reagan believed America was a “shining city on the hill” and that it was always morning in America.

Citizens United has produced a short video showing that there is no comparison between Presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. Both men may share the same title, but they view America and the world quite differently. The difference is pretty stark when you hear Reagan and Obama speaking about America. Can you imagine a circumstance in which President Reagan would criticize America in a speech overseas?

(more…)

America is in a financial crisis. For years, politicians on both sides of the aisle have ignored the 800 pound gorilla in the room – our climbing $14 trillion national debt. That trend seems like it will continue with reports coming out over the weekend that President Obama will request more government spending in the State of the Union. I had hoped that a detailed plan on how to curb our government’s overspending would be the focus of the President’s speech. However, it looks like what he really wants is, in essence, another stimulus. We all know that the stimulus package passed during the beginning days of this Administration failed miserably and contributed to the $14 trillion debt. If we do not address the ever-increasing debt, America may sink into a dangerous financial abyss.

From 1789 to 1997, America’s national debt climbed to $5.4 trillion. In January of 2007, when Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid assumed power in the House and Senate and Obama was sworn in as a Senator, our national debt was $8.6 trillion. In just 48 months the Pelosi/Reid Congress did what it took all previous Administrations and Congresses combined to do in 208 years – increase the national debt by $5.4 trillion to the record level of $14 trillion. Democrats currently in charge continually look the other way when it comes to the national debt.

We must get our fiscal house in order. With President Obama set to call for even more government spending, it appears that the era of Washington’s fiscal irresponsibility will continue. The liberal policy on spending mimics that of drunken sailors – not to insult drunken sailors. Fortunately, the American people have weighed in by restoring control of the House of Representatives to Republicans. It now rests upon the shoulders of Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, and many others to be so bold as to say “ENOUGH” to Obama’s overspending.

At Citizens United, we have released a short video, highlighting the issue of the national debt.

(more…)

One year ago today, on January 21, the Supreme Court released its landmark decision in Citizens United v. FEC. The decision corrected an anomaly in campaign finance law, and in doing so was a tremendous victory for the First Amendment and Americans who wish to participate in our political process.

The case found its origins in 2007 when my group, Citizens United, a membership organization, sought to promote, distribute, and broadcast via video-on-demand a film critical of then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. If Citizens United would have done so, we were told by the FEC that it would have been a willful violation of the provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act of 2002 (better known as “McCain-Feingold”) which prohibited corporations from making independent expenditures and electioneering communications. This violation was not merely subject to a civil fine, but rather a criminal penalty – I personally would have been sent to jail for promoting the film. Citizens United filed a lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission to defend our right to promote and broadcast the film. It took more than two years, but the First Amendment protection of political speech was restored by the Supreme Court in this landmark ruling.

In the year since Citizens United was decided, it has been the subject of countless unwarranted attacks and harsh rhetoric. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) claimed, “Citizens United was an incredible act of judicial activism. It turned back a century of federal law, and it nullified Minnesota’s twenty-year-old ban on corporate spending in elections.” Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA), in his farewell addressed, alleged that Citizens United “effectively undermin[ed] the basic democratic principle of the power of one person/one vote.” Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) argued that “if we don’t act quickly to confront this ruling, we will have let the Supreme Court predetermine the outcome of next November’s elections. It won’t be Republicans or Democrats; it will be Corporate America and other special interests.” All twisted the decision beyond recognition in an attempt to demonize the ruling and further their own political agenda.

(more…)

While President Obama’s eyes are set on a Christmas vacation in Hawaii, the American people’s minds are fixed on the largest tax increases in American history that are looming on the horizon.  Every American taxpayer will be hit hard by the Obama tax hikes.  At a time of economic strife, and today’s reports of unemployment rising to 9.8 percent, President Obama’s thoughts should be on creating jobs for the American people but raising taxes will only hurt small businesses and job creation.

On the first of the new year, personal income taxes will be hiked, and the marriage penalty tax will rear its ugly head again.  In fact, even the child tax credit will be cut by $500 for every child.  With the economy still struggling, American families will have to make even tougher decisions in 2011 if Congress does not halt these tax increases.

President Obama knew almost two years ago when he was sworn into office that these tax hikes would go into effect on January 1, 2011.  It is a failure of leadership that he has waited until the 11^th hour to act.  I hope as President Obama dreams of his Hawaiian Christmas vacation, he reflects on those American families that will soon suffer under his historic tax increases.

(more…)

By sticking with Nancy Pelosi as their leader once again, one has to wonder if House Democrats are denying reality. Whether it’s 9.6 percent unemployment, record debt, the government takeover of health care, or cap and tax, the Pelosi agenda was sent packing in 2010 to the tune of over 60 House seats.

The decision to reanoint Nancy Pelosi is the equivalent of giving the American people a fruitcake for the holidays. And let’s face it – nobody really wants a fruitcake! Sadly, the similarities between the embarrassingly unpopular duo don’t stop there.

According to recent polling data, “Leader” Pelosi’s approval rating just before the Republican electoral tsunami was at 29 percent. That is painfully low and represents a total rejection of the failed policies she championed over the course of her infamous Speakership. But, to look on the bright side of things, Pelosi is still more popular than fruitcake, which received the approval of 28 percent of the people. Maybe over the course of the next two years the fruitcake will rebuild its image and overtake the embattled soon-to-be former Speaker in the polls.

At Citizens United, we are rolling out a little early holiday fun. This week we launched www.pelosifruitcake.com and a parody web ad campaign that highlights the obvious: nobody wants a fruitcake. Please share with your family, friends, and co-workers. Season’s Greetings!

(more…)

You’ve endured a long hard campaign season, weathered vicious attacks from your opponent, on Election Night, you triumphed, and now you will take your seat in the 112th Congress.  Now the real work begins.

While much of your time from now through your swearing in will be filled with thanking supporters, hiring staff, and retiring campaign debt, it is imperative that you devote some time to reflect on what is that brought you to this point.  Why did the voters select you on Election Day; what do they expect from you; and how will you make good on your promises to the American public?

Republicans gained over 60 seats in the House of Representatives this Election Day.  This electoral tsunami is a reflection of how the American public is feeling.  They are tired of President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi and their failed liberal agenda.  From Obamacare, to flawed economic stimulus packages, to cap and trade, they’ve had enough.

The voters embraced your candidacies and ultimately cast their ballots for you because they want a real change.  They want principled conservatives who will come to Washington and stand firm on their promise to cut spending, restore fiscal discipline, and actually create an environment that fosters economic growth and job creation.  There are a few bold ideas that Americans endorsed by electing you on November 2nd, which if accomplished will help correct the course of our great nation.

(more…)

Conservative Republicans nationwide made a resounding comeback last Tuesday night, recapturing the majority in the U.S. House by picking up more than 60 seats – the biggest gains since 1948! In addition to the historic night in the House, Republicans added 6 seats in the U.S. Senate, 18 State House chambers switched, and there will be 11 new Republican governors starting in 2011.

President Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and soon-to-be-ex Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi saw a repudiation of their irresponsible and out of touch left-wing agenda, and the comeback of a vibrant and hopeful conservative movement – with women leading the way.

A large number of Republican women ran for Congress this year – 51 to be exact – and those winning their races included Sandy Adams of Florida, Diane Black of Tennessee, Vicky Hartzler of Missouri, Jaime Herrera of Washington, Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Martha Roby of Alabama, all of whom took over seats previously held by Democrats. They will join Fire from the Heartland cast members and incumbent Congresswomen Michele Bachmann, Cynthia Lummis, and Jean Schmidt in the House this January.

Some of the other notable GOP women who prevailed include rising stars Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez, the first female governors of South Carolina and New Mexico, respectively, and Kelly Ayotte, who trounced liberal Rep. Paul Hodes to become the junior U.S. Senator from New Hampshire.

When one traces the roots of the conservative movement, women have always served as its back bone.

(more…)

With less than a month to go before Democrats across the country face their fate, one would hope that they are reflective enough to ask themselves where they went wrong and how their out-of-touch liberal policies have failed the American people. According to a recent poll by Gallup, Congress has an 18 percent approval rating, and CNN/Time has President Obama’s disapproval rating at 54 percent. It seems the tide has changed since the 2008 election. At the end of September, Congress left Washington without passing a budget and failed to even address the largest tax increases ever to hit the American people that will come in January.

Citizens United Production’s latest documentary, “Battle for America” with Dick Morris, examines why Americans have such disdain for President Obama and his imperial Congress. The American people are angry. With an unemployment rate hovering around 9.6 percent and our national debt exceeding $13 trillion, Americans want real change… not the kind of change they were duped into believing two years ago. In 2008, the American people voted for what was sold as moderate and pragmatic leadership. Americans were in desperate need of a government that would focus on jobs and our troubled economy. Unfortunately, the Obama-Pelosi-Reid machine decided to pass the rest of Lyndon Johnson’s social welfare program instead.

During the 2006 election, Nancy Pelosi proclaimed that the Democrats would “drain the swamp” that is Washington, D.C. However, it looks as if her “swamp” is as polluted and infected as ever as evidenced by the backroom deals made during the health care debate and the ethics troubles facing former Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) and other House Democrats. The truth is that Nancy Pelosi’s swamp can’t be drained because it is the bloated and (nearly) bankrupt government created by her and her colleagues that keeps it filled. Our country is drowning and suffocating in an out-of-control bureaucracy.

(more…)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scheduled a second vote on the DISCLOSE Act for Thursday. Rather than address the 14.4 percent unemployment in his home state of Nevada, he wants to regulate political speech through hastily cobbled together campaign finance legislation. This legislation would impose a burdensome new disclaimer and disclosure regime on speakers who seek to exercise their First Amendment right to political speech.

The DISCLOSE Act is a desperate attempt to respond to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In Citizens United the Court embraced the First Amendment protection of political speech. Now groups of Americans may stand together and speak, regardless of whether they have sought the protection of a corporate form, labor union, or non-profit organization.

Fearful of how these groups of Americans may exercise this right, Senator Schumer, Representative Chris Van Hollen, and leaders of the Democratic Party sought to create a burdensome new disclosure and disclaimer regime to make it difficult for Americans to exercise these rights. Senator Schumer is hopeful that the legislation will result in fewer political ads being run.

The DISCLOSE Act was crafted behind closed doors with the input of Democratic lobbyists. Labor unions and large special interests groups including the National Rifle Association were afforded special exemptions from various provisions of the bill. This partisan legislation is an assault on the First Amendment, and principled conservative groups like Citizens United were right to oppose it.

(more…)

We are in the midst of a national debate over the size and scope of government and I am hopeful.  Conservative Republican Joe Miller’s remarkable victory in the Alaska Republican Senate Primary should have Americans feeling optimistic about the prospects of real change coming to Washington in 2011. Miller’s victory over incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski is just the latest jolt to an establishment that has paved the way for an unsustainable $13.3 trillion national debt and record budget deficits.

My PAC, Citizens United Political Victory Fund (www.cupvf.org) has a goal for the 2009-2010 election cycle to recapture the majorities in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives by helping to elect candidates who will fight for conservative principles and challenge the agenda of the Obama Administration.  To date, CUPVF has made more than $300,000 in direct contributions to 53 federal candidates who are campaigning to put an end to this fiscal insanity.

If Miller is elected to the Senate in November, along with fellow fiscal conservatives Pat Toomey (PA), Marco Rubio (FL), Sharron Angle (NV), Ken Buck (CO), and Rand Paul (KY), business as usual in Washington will be over.  And good riddance!  After all, one U.S. Senator has the power to bring the legislative and appropriations process to a halt.  Imagine what this group of potential newcomers, with a clear mandate to stop the spending, could do to get America’s fiscal house in order!   Establishment incumbents from both parties should beware that the taxpayer funded party is about to end.   Voters are giving the order:  enough is enough.

(more…)

When Senator Chuck Schumer staged an elaborate press conference on the steps of the Supreme Court to unveil his Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections Act (“DISCLOSE Act”) he noted that:

“Anyone who wants to hide, will not do an ad after this legislation passes. And I think there are a lot of people who like to hide … so I think there’ll be many fewer of them.”

His words revealed the true motivation of this legislation – it is not transparency but rather silencing speech in this critical election year.  The Supreme Court in Citizens United v. FEC restored the First Amendment protection to political speech.  Small businesses, corporations, unions, and membership based organizations may now have a voice in the public discourse.  The Democratic leadership that is tasked with re-electing incumbent politicians and trying to minimize Democratic losses this November were understandably fearful of what the public may say now that their voices have been restored.  One issue the Democrats would rather not let the American people be reminded of is the national 9.5% unemployment rate.

Their solution was the DISCLOSE Act, a piece of legislation that creates a burdensome new regulatory scheme as well as requires that political ads feature disclaimers which may be as long as 14 seconds in length.  This will increase the costs to small businesses and membership based organizations that seek to have a voice – many won’t be able to afford the additional compliance costs and will have their voices silenced.

In the four months since Senator Schumer introduced the DISCLOSE Act, we’ve seen it is just one part of a systemic campaign to chill political speech.

(more…)