FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 15, 2014
Contact: Mallory Quigley, [email protected], 703-380-6674
**Media Advisory**
SBA List Responds to IRS Scandal
Washington, D.C – It has recently been reported that Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) wrote to the IRS in June 2012 to complain about 12 nonprofit groups he wanted investigated for “political activity.”
Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) was one of the 12 groups listed along with the Club for Growth, Americans for Tax Reform, 60 Plus Association and others. In response to this news, SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser gave the following comment:
“We have recently been engaged in a Supreme Court fight to preserve our First Amendment freedom to criticize elected officials and expose the truth about their actions in Washington. That we have also recently been targeted by senior legislators seeking to silence us is another example of government attempts to stoke fear in the hearts of those who disagree with them. Fear of engaging in the public square is antithetical to the ideals on which our country was built. That’s why we will always fight fear and work to preserve freedom.”
“Absolute power corrupts, absolutely. Any government action that leads to fear of navigating in the public square is unhealthy for Democracy, and must be stopped.”
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Susan B. Anthony List v. Steve Driehaus. We asked the court to allow our First Amendment challenge to Ohio’s “false statement” law to proceed on the grounds that the statute empowers a state agency to determine what constitutes true or false political speech. The Court is expected to make a ruling in June or July.
The Susan B. Anthony List is dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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