VETO SB 346: An Open Letter to Governor Rick Perry

Dear Mr. Governor,

As the national IRS scandal grows, the Texas Legislature has sent an equally disturbing bill to you.

SB 346 is a threat to political free association in the state of Texas, as the Wall St. Journal details:

The bill requires that all social-welfare and nonprofit groups that spend more than $25,000 a year on politics report the details of their spending. The groups, which file under sections 501(c)(4) and 501(c)(6) of the tax code, would also have to disclose their donors, providing a new opportunity for advocacy groups to intimidate businesses and others from participating in elections.

This poorly-written, wide-ranging, bill is certain to produce unintended consequences no one will like.

 ConservativeHQ has more:

Even if you are not based in Texas, if you donate to or lead an organization that publishes and distributes a non-partisan voter guide on state races or a newsletter on what is happening on your issues in State Houses around the country -- that includes coverage of Texas politics -- you could very well find yourself subject to this law....Even if they live in another state, anyone who supports an organization that helped Tea Party backed Senator Ted Cruz or that might report on the goings-on in the Texas legislature on issues such as the right to life, home schooling or traditional marriage might suddenly find their name and how much they gave to a 501(c)3 or 501(c)4 in another state disclosed in filings to the State of Texas and published in newspapers across the country. 

 Cahnman's Musings respectfully requests you VETO SB 346.

Sincerely,
Adam Cahn
Austin, TX
May, 23 2013

P.S. Readers can contact Governor Perry via. Telephone or Twitter:

Telephone: (512) 463-2000
Twitter: @GovernorPerry