MEMO FOR THE MOVEMENT

Conservatives Oppose H.R. 1, the Ultimate Fantasy of the Left

January 28, 2019 Washington, DC

Conservatives are united in opposing H.R. 1, the attempt by House Democrats to fundamentally undermine the American electoral system.

While they cloak the bill in terms of “restoring democracy” and “preventing corruption,” the legislation has one goal: to protect incumbents, at the expense of the First Amendment, federalism, and individual voter integrity.

H.R. 1 undermines the First Amendment. H.R. 1 undoes key Supreme Court cases that protect elections as fundamental to free speech. It would allow the Federal Election Commission to track and catalogue more of what Americans are saying, register even very small political donations, and make public those who donate to different charitable and nonprofit organizations. The legislation will subject private citizens to intimidation and harassment for their private and political beliefs, far broader than what was done in the IRS targeting scandal in 2013.

H.R. 1 yanks election authority away from the states. H.R. 1 reasserts the ability of the federal government to micromanage state elections through a process known as “preclearance.” Preclearance, which was previously overturned by the Supreme Court, requires states to get permission from the federal government for changes as small as modifying the hours of an election office, or moving a voting location from a school gym to the library. Critically, none of these practices would undo any fraud or corruption. Rather, these same practices result in incorrect registrations and inaccurate voter data, while failing to address actual corrupt practices like ballot harvesting. Moreover, they are all designed to eliminate the federalism that keeps elections transparent, local, and fair.

H.R. 1 attacks individual voter integrity. America was founded on the principle of “one person, one vote.” H.R. 1 turns this on its head by weaponizing every aspect of the political regulatory system. The Federal Election Commission, which is currently a neutral body, would be given a 3-2 makeup, guaranteeing a partisan outcome with little accountability toward the actual votes which are cast. H.R. 1 also includes a 600 percent government match for political donations, and authorizes even more public dollars to campaigns. The bill also wants to make Election Day a new paid holiday for government workers, with additional paid vacation given to bureaucrats to oversee the polls. All of ______The Conservative Action Project (CAP) was founded in 2008 by many conservative leaders with former Attorney General Edwin Meese III serving as the Founding Chairman. CAP is currently chaired by Mr. Alfred S. Regnery and is designed to facilitate conservative leaders working together on behalf of common goals. Participants include the CEOs of over 100 organizations representing all major elements of the conservative movement-economic, social and national security.

these changes are designed to distance the outcome of the election from those casting their votes.

H.R. 1 would also implement the following changes:

 Forces states to implement mandatory voter registration, removing civic participation as a voluntary choice, and increasing chances for error.  Mandates that states allow all felons to vote.  Forces states to extend periods of early voting, which has shown to have no effect on turnout.  Mandates same-day voter registration, which encourages voter fraud.  Limits the ability of states to cooperate to see who is registered in multiple states at the same time.  Prohibits election observers from cooperating with election officials to file formal challenges to suspicious voter registrations.  Criminalizes protected political speech by making it a crime to “discourage” someone from voting  Bars states from making their own laws about voting by mail.  Prohibits chief election officials in each state from participating in federal election campaigns.  Mandates free mailing of absentee ballots.  Mandates that states adopt new redistricting commissions.

H.R. 1 would cause sweeping and irrevocable damage to the free speech, privacy, and integrity that are central components to free and fair elections in America. We oppose H.R. 1 in the strongest terms, and urge all conservatives to do likewise.

The Honorable Edwin Meese III Alfred S. Regnery Attorney General Chairman, Conservative Action Project President Ronald Reagan (1985-1988) Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund

Adam Brandon Marjorie Dannenfelser President President FreedomWorks Susan B. Anthony List

The Honorable Colin A. Hanna Diana Banister President President and Partner Let Freedom Ring, Inc. Shirley & Banister Public Affairs

Noah Wall Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Vice President of Advocacy Partner FreedomWorks Foley & Lardner LLP

Jessica Anderson Myron Ebell Vice President Director, Center for Energy and Environment Heritage Action for America Competitive Enterprise Institute

David Bozell Tom McClusky President President ForAmerica March for Life Action

Lisa B. Nelson The Honorable Bob McEwen Chief Executive Officer U.S. House of Representatives American Legislative Exchange Council Former Member, Ohio

The Honorable David McIntosh Matt Schlapp President Chairman Club for Growth American Conservative Union (ACU)

Daniel Schneider Jenny Beth Martin Executive Director Chairman American Conservative Union (ACU) Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund

The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop William L. Walton White House Advisor Chairman President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) CNP Action, Inc.

The Honorable Jim DeMint Rachel Bovard Member, South Carolina Policy Director United States Senate (2005-2013) Senate Steering Committee (2014-2015)

Ed Corrigan The Honorable T. Kenneth Cribb, Jr. Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chief Domestic Advisor Executive Director, Senate Steering President Ronald Reagan (1987-1988) Committee (2003-2012)

Thomas Fitton The Honorable Tony Perkins President President, Family Research Council Judicial Watch, Inc. President, Council for National Policy

The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Chairman Executive Vice President Constitutional Congress, Inc. Family Research Council

The Honorable Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, II L. Brent Bozell, III President Founder and President Senate Conservatives Fund Media Research Center

The Honorable Hans A. von Spakovsky The Honorable Charles J. Cooper Commissioner Assistant Attorney General, President Ronald Federal Election Commission (2006-2007) Reagan & Cooper & Kirk PLLC

The Honorable Tom DeLay J. Christian Adams Former Majority Leader President US House of Representatives Public Interest Legal Foundation

Grover Norquist The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President President Americans for Tax Reform American Values

Floyd Brown Tracie Sharp Chairman President & CEO America Fighting Back PAC State Policy Network

The Honorable Donald Hodel The Honorable James C. Miller III Secretary of Energy, President Reagan Budget Director, President Ronald Reagan, Secretary of Interior, President Reagan (1985-1988)

Rod D. Martin Sherri R. Martin Founder and CEO Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. The Martin Organization, Inc.

Haley E. Martin Nicholas Stehle President Campaign for the American Future The Martin Foundation

Shawn A. Mitchell Jerry Melvin Former National Chaplain, National Federation Former Dean of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) Florida House of Representatives

Ellen F. Grigsby Ralph Benko, Esq. Director of Institutional Partnerships Senior Advisor, Economics Open Doors USA American Principles Project

Melissa Ortiz Phil Kerpen Founder and Principal President Able Americans American Commitment

Kathleen Patten Jenna Ellis President and CEO Director of Public Policy American Target Advertising James Dobson Family Institute

Allen Hebert Sal Russo Chairman Co-Founder and Chief Strategist American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston Tea Party Express

Trent England Steve Berger Executive Vice President Pastor Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs Grace Chapel

The Honorable George K. Rasley, Jr. Rebekah Gantner Managing Editor Executive Director, Eagle Forum Education & ConservativeHQ.com Legal Defense Fund

Ed Martin Christopher Malagisi President Host Phyllis Schlafly Eagles Conservative Book Club Podcast

Roxanne Phillips Richard H. Wright Member, Executive Committee CEO Council for National Policy AAndrews Consulting

Seton Motley Stuart Epperson, Sr. President Chairman Less Government Salem Media Group

Jack Park Dr. Frank Wright Conservative Donor and Activist President & CEO D. James Kennedy Ministries

Ron Robinson Kelly Kullberg President President Young America’s Foundation America Conservancy

Mark Fitzgibbons The Honorable Jake Hoffman President of Corporate Affairs President & CEO American Target Advertising, Inc. Rally Forge

John F. Tate Charlie Copeland President President America's Liberty PAC Intercollegiate Studies Institute

C. Preston Noell III James L. Martin President Founder/President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. 60 Plus Association

Bob Carlstrom Saul Anuzis President President The Carlstrom Group, LLC 60 Plus Association

Gary Marx Lew Uhler President President Madison Strategies National Tax Limitation Committee

Bailey Amaral The Honorable Penny Pullen Director Former State Legislator The Windrose Project Illinois General Assembly

The Honorable Michael R. Long Jay Mount State Chairman President NYS Conservative Party MDS Communications Corporation

Amapola Hansberger The Honorable Belden Bell President Co-Chair Legacy Society Legal Immigrants for America The Heritage Society

Richard Manning The Honorable Roy S. Moore President President Emeritus Americans for Limited Government Foundation for Moral Law

Kayla Moore Matthew Tyrmand President Principal Foundation for Moral Law Matthew Tyrmand, LLC

Chad Connelly Dr. Richard Rounsavelle President and Founder Trustee Faith Wins Media Research Center

Robert K. Fischer Randy M. Long Meeting Coordinator CEO Conservatives of Faith Long Business Advisors, LLC

The Honorable Mike Spence Benjamin R. Case Founding President Chief Executive Officer Conservative Republicans of California Focused On Fundraising, Inc.

The Honorable Mike Hill Carolee Adams Representative President Florida State House, D1 Eagle Forum of New Jersey

Thomas Pyle Elaine Donnelly President President American Energy Alliance Center for Military Readiness

Robert D. Thompson Dan Weber Former Administrator Founder and President, Association of Mature The Weyrich Lunch (1999-2016) American Citizens (AMAC)

Tim Macy Dr. Jameson Taylor Chairman Vice President for Policy Gun Owners of America Mississippi Center for Public Policy

Brett Healy Donald Bryson President President and CEO The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Civitas Institute Policy

Jon Pritchett Emily Davenport CEO Vice President Mississippi Center for Public Policy Pelican Institute for Public Policy

Heather Lauer Paul Gessing Policy Director President People United for Privacy Rio Grande Foundation

Dr. Kevin Roberts Victor Riches Executive Director President & CEO Texas Public Policy Foundation Goldwater Institute

Becky Gerritson Stella Morabito Executive Director Author Eagle Forum of Alabama

L. Jean Lewis Barbara Ledeen

Rabbi Aryeh Spero Brigitte Gabriel Caucus For America Founder & Chairman ACT For America

Tom McCabe Willes K. Lee CEO President Freedom Foundation National Federation of Republican Assemblies

Norman Singleton Wayne Hoffman President President Campaign for Liberty Idaho Freedom Foundation

Mike Stenhouse Rob Chambers CEO Vice President RI Center for Freedom & Prosperity AFA Action

Annette Thompson Meeks Joseph G. Lehman CEO President Freedom Foundation of Minnesota Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Ron Pearson David Williams Executive Director President Conservative Victory Fund Taxpayers Protection Alliance

Khadine L. Ritter William Shaker Chairman CEO Eagle Forum of Ohio Washington Marketing Group

Richard D. Hayes Mario Navarro da Costa Partner Director, Washington Bureau Hayes, Berry, White & Vanzant, LLP Tradition, Family, Property

Alan P. Dye Sean Noble Senior Partner President Webster, Chamberlain & Bean American Encore

The Honorable Diana Denman Debbie Georgatos Presidential Appointee CEO President Reagan Administration CWT Publications, LLC

Kevin Freeman Andresen Blom Founder President NSIC Institute Hawaiian Values

Joseph A. Morris Charlie Gerow Attorney and Partner Vice Chairman Morris & De La Rosa American Conservative Union

Rebecca Hagelin James Clymer Secretary Vice President, Conservative Legal Defense Council for National Policy and Education Fund

Lee A. Beaman William W. Pascoe, III CEO Board Member Beaman Automotive Group Tea Party Patriots Action

Peter Thomas Melvin Adams Chairman Past President The Conservative Caucus Renewanation

Curt Levey Judson Phillips President Founder Committee for Justice Tea Party Nation

Michelle Easton Col. Francis X. De Luca USMC(Ret) President, Clare Boothe Luce Center for President Emeritus Conservative Women Civitas Institute

Susan A. Carleson Mario H. Lopez Chairman/CEO President American Civil Right Union Hispanic Leadership Fund

Paavo Ensio Ambassador Henry F. Cooper Chairman President Reagan's Chief Defense and Space Minerals Group Negotiator & Former SDI Director

The Honorable Terrence Scanlon Brent Mead Retired Chairman and President CEO Capital Research Center Montana Policy Institute

David Bossie James C. Dobson Ph.D. President Founder & President Citizens United James Dobson Family Institute

Kay R. Daly Anne S. Cori President Chairman Coalition for a Fair Judiciary Eagle Forum

Eunie Smith Adam Kincaid President Executive Director Eagle Forum Fair Lines America

Michael L. Baller Dr. Scott Magill Member Executive Director Council for National Policy Veterans in Defense of Liberty

(All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only)