NAM Opposes Resolution Limiting First Amendment Rights

On September 10th, Aric Newhouse of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) penned a letter to the Senate, urging opposition to S.J. Res. 19, a proposed amendment to the Constitution that the NAM claims would "place limits on right guaranteed by the First Amendment." The proposed amendment increases Congress' control over the raising and spending of money in regards to federal and state elections. NAM argues that because the amendment would grant Congress and state governments the ability to set rules over political activities of individuals and corporations, even on nonpartisan political activity, the amendment consequently obstructs a citizen's right to organize and form associations to advocate on issues of public policy. Newhouse writes that the amendment's increase of Congressional and state government rights is "contrary to the American tradition of political expression and a long line of Supreme Court precedent...the basic right to band together and express...political beliefs must not be restricted." The NAM is the nation's largest industrial trade association, and it represents manufacturers of all sizes in every industrial sector in the U.S. The NAM's public position on this issue as stated by Aric Newhouse can be read in full here.