RSC Chairman Scalise stands for the freedom of speech

Washington, D.C. – Republican Study Committee Chairman Steve Scalise today protected the First Amendment rights of all Americans by voting to stop the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from targeting certain Americans because of their political beliefs. The proposal by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp blocks the IRS from implementing regulations that stifle free speech and constitutional rights.

“We need to stop the IRS from targeting Americans based on their political views, and our free society cannot tolerate continued threats to our constitutional liberties,” RSC Chairman Scalise said. “The IRS’ proposed rule last fall raised alarming concerns, and I applaud the leadership of Chairman Camp for leading the charge to rein in the IRS. Targeting civic groups on the basis of their political views should send a chilling message to every American that holds sacred the free speech rights that are guaranteed to us under the Bill of Rights. Chairman Camp’s legislation takes an important step to stop the Obama Administration from implementing new rules that are focused on unfairly targeting their political enemies. The freedom of speech is one of America’s most basic rights, and this Administration should not be able to pick and choose which Americans can speak freely about their political beliefs.”

More than 70 RSC Members will soon join the more than 94,000 Americans who have submitted public comments regarding the proposed IRS rule.