DATELINE: Monday, March 5, 2012

CONTACT: Sarah Lee, Communications Director, The Center for Competitive Politics, 770.598.796

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Center for Competitive Politics’ Vice President for Policy Allison Hayward will testify in front of the Federal Election Commission this Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. Hayward will offer testimony on the FEC’s proposed rules on Independent Expenditures and Electioneering Communications by Corporations and Labor Organizations.

Hayward plans on offering remarks from the prospective of CCP and other defenders of first amendment speech rights. Her remarks are intended to convince the commission of the need to 1.) provide clear and unambiguous guidance to the regulation community; 2.) abandon the distinction between qualified nonprofits and other associated identities; and 3.) recognize that the Court’s rulings protect not only “communications” but also other political activity.

As the debate continues between advocates of free speech in electioneering and those who would like to see an increase in campaign speech regulation, Hayward will represent CCP and its tireless mission to ensure that campaign speech remain free and unencumbered by burdensome legislation that has the deleterious effect of silencing voters.

“My goal is to convince the FEC that the First Amendment covers political speech and that this is a good thing,” Hayward said. “The attention super PACs have gotten in the press has clouded the issue which is simply that less regulation of campaign speech is better for democracy.”

The hearing will be broadcast live beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday. CCP will make a link available to that feed Wednesday morning via the CCP website. 

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