The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert, Speaker
The Honorable Roy Blunt, Majority Whip
The Honorable Eric Cantor, Deputy Majority Whip
Office of the Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House Leadership:
On behalf of the 350,000 members of the National Taxpayers Union (NTU), I urge you to bring H.R. 1316, the 527 Fairness Act of 2005, to a vote on the House floor before Thanksgiving of this year. This pressing legislation sponsored by Representative Mike Pence and Representative Albert Wynn was reported favorably out of committee and awaits your attention.
In March 2005 NTU endorsed H.R. 1316 as a "common-sense" measure to help reform the "deeply flawed" McCain-Feingold campaign finance law. We wholeheartedly believe that this legislation will help redress some of the glaring abuses of the so-called campaign finance reform passed in 2001 by leveling the playing field for various political participants.
H.R. 1316 is especially timely given recent fundraising reports of 527 groups. While NTU has no problem with 527 organizations raising money, many of your colleagues in the House have expressed concern over the potential imbalance unlimited outside spending might have on Congressional races in 2006. Some 30 groups with 527 status have already raised $48.3 million during the first half of 2005, and should this pace continue, total 527 fundraising for the year could reach nearly $100 million. Comparatively, 527 groups raised $78.5 million in 2003, a year preceding a major presidential election.
As 2006 is a midterm-election year, 527 organizations are likely to focus their resources on Congressional and gubernatorial elections. With candidates, individual donors, political parties, and other entities hobbled by onerous and anti-democratic campaign finance laws, less-burdened 527 groups may have an even greater impact on 2006 races. This defeats the stated purpose of the McCain-Feingold law by merely conferring federal legal advantages to a different set of donors. Government campaign rules should stop playing favorites and should be made less, not more, restrictive for everyone. Passage of H.R. 1316 will help promote a "freer and fairer" midterm election.
The remainder of the 2005 legislative calendar affords ample time to consider H.R. 1316. The House has already passed most appropriations bills and other key legislation facing the 109th Congress, thus allowing time for a vote on H.R. 1316 while anticipating Senate consideration and conference committee action to dispense with engrossed legislation. NTU urges you to schedule a vote on H.R. 1316 as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Kristina M. Rasmussen
Government Affairs Manager
cc: Representative Bob Ney, Representative Mike Pence, and Representative Albert Wynn