Coordinated Communications Rulemaking

Issues: Free Speech Rights of Nonprofits

Alliance for Justice, AFL-CIO and Sierra Club jointly submitted comments on February 19, 2010, in response to the Federal Election Commission's (the Commission) notice of proposed rulemaking on coordinated communications.  On February 24, AFJ and AFL-CIO submitted additional comments after the Commission re-opened the comment period to consider the effects of Citizens United on the rules previously proposed.

As described in the original comments, "the scope of the statutory prohibition on coordinated expenditures has long presented one of the most vexing issues facing the Commission." 

"Coordinated communications should not be a means by which federal election contribution limitations can be circumvented," stated Nan Aron, President, Alliance for Justice. "However, the prohibition on coordinated communications cannot be interpreted in a way that will discourage valuable and legitimate efforts by citizens to influence legislation and public policy debates."

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