Conservative Action Project (CAP) Was Founded in 2008 by Many Conservative Leaders with Former Attorney General Edwin Meese III Serving As the Founding Chairman
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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