(Alexandria, VA) -- The 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU) today announced it has taken legal action to suspend Florida election laws that would require disclosure of private information about all of its nationwide members -- including more than 24,000 in the state -- simply for communicating with citizens about ballot measures. The Institute for Justice, a well-respected nonprofit public interest law center, is NTU's counsel.
"One of the National Taxpayers Union's core missions is to provide the public with nonpartisan information on important fiscal policy issues," said NTU President Duane Parde, who, along with NTU, is a plaintiff in the case. "Unfortunately, because of the state's harsh and arbitrary statutes, we're unable to share details about amendments to the state constitution affecting fiscal policy that will appear on Florida's ballot next month. These laws not only violate freedom of speech, they also rob Florida voters of information they deserve to see. That's the exact opposite of the principles behind the First Amendment, which is supposed to protect open and robust public debate."
Each year, NTU releases a national guide that provides background information on fiscal measures -- such as income tax reductions or spending increases -- that will appear on state ballots. The guide does not ask voters to support or oppose the measures, but rather informs them how taxpayers could be affected by each initiative. The 2008 guide does not contain information about any of several Florida measures due to the onerous regulations that would violate the privacy of NTU's members.
Under the laws, NTU -- and any entity that even refers to a ballot measure in any publication that goes to the general public -- would have to register as an electioneering communication organization. NTU would have to file itemized disclosure forms listing the name, occupation, and contribution amount, type, and date of every member. NTU first and foremost respects the privacy of its members and donors; however, numerous other problems abound with these burdensome regulations, including that NTU does not request occupation information from its donors and receives many anonymous contributions. Simply gathering and reporting the data for all members would deplete the group's limited staff resources.
"Floridians should be empowered to make an informed decision at the ballot box on all measures," Parde concluded. "They won't be able to do so, however, unless the court steps in to protect the free exchange of ideas that has been significantly jeopardized by the state."
NTU is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizen organization founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes, smaller government, and economic freedom at all levels. Note: For more information, visit www.ntu.org or the Institute for Justice Web site at www.ij.org.