From: Robert Shattuck <rdshattuck@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Jan 9, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Subject: Amending First Amendment to be applicable only to human beings
To: info@jeffsessions.com
Dear Senator Sessions,
I am seeking to be an independent candidate for the House of Representatives from the 6th Congressional District. I am advocating that the First Amendment be amended to be applicable only to human beings. To assist 6th district voters in evaluating this idea, I would like to solicit and publicize the views of organizations, candidates and others that voters might consider useful in making up their minds on this question. Your view as United States Senator from Alabama is one whose view I would like to solicit.
If you are willing to state a position, I would like to publicize the same in (or by a link from) my website entry Join the First Amendment debate.
I hope you will indeed join this debate.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Rob Shattuck
[Below is a optical scanner text conversion of a letter I received from Senator Sessions in response. Sorry about the imperfections in same.]
WASHINGTON , DC 20510-0104
3812 Spring Valley Circle Brk , Alabama 35223
BIRMINGHAM HUNTSVILLE MOBILE 41 WEST 1-65 SERVICE ROAD NORTH MOBILE AL MONTGOMERY 7550 HALCYON.SUMMIT DRIVE SUITE 150 MONTGOMERY , AL 36117
[Below is a optical scanner text conversion of a letter I received from Senator Sessions in response. Sorry about the imperfections in same.]
JEFF SESSIONS ALABAMA
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January 23, 2012
COMMITTEES:
BUOGET
Ranking Member
JUDICIARY
ARMED SERVICES ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
Mr. Robert Shattuck
Dear Mr. Shattuck:
Thank you for contactimg me regarding campaign finance reform.
On January 21, 2009, the United States Supreme Court issued a ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in which the Court held that the government may not ban political speech prior to an election simply because the speech was paid for by a corporation or a labor union. In reaching this conclusion, the Court returned to the First Amendment doctrine it announced 35 years ago, overturning a more recent, outlying decision that had allowed the govemment to ban corporations and labor unions from using their own funds to express their political views at election time.
I believe the Citizens United' decision by the Supreme Court was a victory for the free speech rights of all American citizens. It did not affect the existing limits on direct donations to candidates or political parties. Rather, the Court held that Congress can no longer prevent a free people, whether acting individually or collectively through a corporation or a labor union, from spending their own money to express their views on the political issues that matter to them.
-As you mention-in your-letter.many Democrats are-pushing for disclosure requirements with respect to the types of donations addressed in the Citizens United decision. I believe such requirements could have a chilling effect on the willingness of individuals to contribute to candidates or causes they believe in. It is a fundamental right of Americans to criticize their government, especially before an election. This ruling enables Americans to exercise that right more freely, thus preserving our Constitution and all the liberties that depend upon it.I
341 VANCE FEDERALBU1LD1NG 1600 F1FTH AVENUE BIRMINGHAM , AL
REG10NS CENTER, SUITE 602200 CLlNTON AVENUE, N.W. HUNTSVILLE , AL 35601-4932
(256) 533-0979 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (256) 533-0979 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
ilB& T CENTRE, SU1TE 2300A
(251) 41 4-3083
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
WIREGRASS
UNITED STATES COURTHOUSE. SUITE 302DOTHAN , AL
(334) 792-4924 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (334) 792-4924 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Page 2
January 23,2012
Thank you again for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any additional questions or comments that you might have.
Very truly yours,
Jeff Sessions
United States Senator
JS: kl
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