TPA Urges Congress To Strongly Oppose H.R. 1, the so-called “For the People” Act.

House of Representatives                                                        March 2, 2021                                          

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Representative,

On behalf of the millions of taxpayers and consumers the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) represents, we write to you today to strongly oppose H.R. 1, the so-called “For the People” Act. This legislation would waste millions of taxpayer dollars on political campaigns, create a partisan Federal Elections Commission (FEC), and damage free speech rights in America.

H.R. 1 would create a 600 percent taxpayer-funded match on political donations to congressional and presidential campaigns. Ostensibly to create a more equitable system, this provision would actually serve to more firmly entrench incumbent politicians. Incumbents have greater name ID, more access to capital, and a significant advantage when it comes to free media. This 600 percent donation match would be tantamount to a six-fold increase in their fundraising advantage over challengers.

For years, the FEC has been comprised of an even split of Republicans and Democrats. This ensured that – at the very least – the commission could not make any significant decisions that would boost one party or candidate at the expense of the other. H.R. 1 would reduce the number of FEC commissioners from six to five. According to the bill text, the new partisan breakdown would be two Republicans, two Democrats, and one “independent” or minor political party member.

However, any casual political observer will note that not all independents are created equal. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) was a one-time frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination. Former Rep. Justin Amash (L-Mich.) was a longtime member of the Republican Party and one-time member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus before joining the Libertarian Party. The presence of a nominal independent on the FEC panel would do very little to stop it from becoming a vehicle to serve the worst interests of partisan actors.

H.R. 1, which has become the focal point of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) push during the 117^th Congress, would have a profoundly chilling effect on free speech. The Constitution guarantees the right to free speech. However, there is no mandate that such speech be public. Yet, H.R. 1 would mandate that political organizations make their donor lists public. The Supreme Court ruled in 1958 in NAACP v. Alabama that disclosure of membership lists violates the Fourteenth Amendment’s due process clause and warrants undue intimidation.

H.R. 1 also broadens the definition of “lobbyist” in such a way that the activity of most Americans who engage and participate in political speech can be regulated as such. This definition is far too broad and is meant as a tacit discouragement of political speech critical of the status quo. As an organization dedicated to holding government accountable, TPA cannot let this stand unchallenged.

As such, we strongly urge members of Congress to vocally oppose H.R. 1 and any concerned citizen should contact their members to make their voices heard as well. Instead, Congress should focus on level-headed solutions to the systemic problems in our governance and seek to alter the status quo for the better, not exacerbate it.

Sincerely,

David Williams

President