FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Eric Schippers

703-535-5836

March 1, 2002

CIF URGES VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE TO DEFEAT 'STAND BY YOUR AD'; PROTECT FREE SPEECH RIGHTS OF VIRGINIANS

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In an effort to defend the First Amendment rights of those who purchase political advertisements in Virginia, the Center for Individual Freedom (CIF) today sent a letter to the entire Virginia Senate, Governor Mark Warner and Attorney General Jerry Kilgore urging opposition to House Bill 558, "Stand by Your Ad."

"This is an incumbent protection bill that was written with blatant disregard for the U.S. Constitution," said CIF Executive Director Eric Schippers. "The right of individuals to anonymously express potentially unpopular ideas and viewpoints is a fundamental principle of the Founding Fathers. Perhaps the bill’s proponents need a refresher course on the Federalist papers, all of which were written anonymously under the pseudonym Publius," said Schippers.

H.B. 558 calls for strict disclosure requirements for political advertisements, including requiring candidates and individuals to put their pictures on campaign television commercials along with mandated statements claiming responsibility for the ads.

Radio advertisements would require statements voiced by ad sponsors. Officers for organizations running ads advocating election or defeat of specific candidates would be required to make the statement of responsibility.

Sponsored by Delegates S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk) and James M. Scott (D-Fairfax), the bill has passed the Virginia House of Delegates and recently received unanimous approval in the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections — the panel that killed identical legislation last year. H.B. 558 is now headed for debate on the Senate floor, and has strong support from Attorney General Jerry Kilgore, who has made the issue a key component of his legislative ethics package.

CIF’s letter in opposition to H.B. 558, written by CIF General Counsel Renee Giachino, addresses the unconstitutional provisions in the bill. "Because the proposed legislation contained in H.B. 558 would directly restrict or otherwise burden core political speech and associational rights and is facially a content-based restriction on political speech, the First Amendment provides its highest protection, and its most unforgiving scrutiny for restrictions on such speech," writes Giachino. "We strongly urge you to consider the constitutional implications of the proposed legislation and the likelihood of the proposal being overturned by a court."

The Center for Individual Freedom is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization with the mission to protect and defend individual freedoms and rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. For a copy of CIF’s letter to the Virginia Legislature, click here, or call 703-535-5836.

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