Ranking Republican of House Administration Questions Real Reason for House and Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chairs' Push to Limit Free Speech

WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on House Administration's Ranking Republican Dan Lungren, R-Calif., issued the following statement questioning the anticipated legislative proposals from Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., and former Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., to counter the recent Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC striking down unconstitutional restrictions on free speech:

"One has to question why this hasty charge to counter the Court's decision and fast track legislation restricting free political speech is being led by the current and former chairs of the House and Senate Democratic campaign committees.

"Do House and Senate Democrats honestly think that limiting certain forms of free speech is the best way to protect political debate? Or do they simply think that censoring free speech will protect their jobs?

"Furthermore, why do Democrats believe that the media conglomerates filling our newspapers and airwaves with political attacks and endorsements should have greater free speech rights than any other for-profit corporation?

"Limiting free political speech undermines the very essence of the First Amendment and underestimates American voters' ability to decipher fact from fiction. Our job isn't to censor constituents or keep information from them - it's to represent them and protect their best interests."

For more information, please contact the Committee press office at (202) 225-8281.