Commentary
Unconstitutional H.R. 1 will Ensure Trump Victory in 2020

This op-ed originally appeared on Townhall.com on February 8, 2019.
By pushing the bill known as H.R. 1, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her 220 compatriots in the House of Representatives appear prepared to blackmail the rest of us by threatening the anonymity—and free speech—of citizens who give to nonprofits engaged in public advocacy. Oddly, House Democrats must think their “For the People Act” is worth helping re-elect President Trump, in order to weaken right-leaning institutions.
Help Trump’s re-election? Oh yes. H.R. 1 entrenches incumbent politicians and lobbyists who benefit from opaque campaign finance laws, and it discourages average Americans from participating in national elections. This biased approach to campaign finance would require nonprofits, labor unions, and trade associations that advocate for or against candidates or legislation to disclose the identity of their donors after spending just $10,000 per two-year election cycle.
The restrictions H.R. 1 places on campaign-related spending inherently favor incumbents—including President Trump—because challengers lack the spotlights that incumbents use to get publicity and raise money.
The bill also expands the types of communication regulated by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to include even speech that’s hosted on an organization’s own website or social media. Under H.R. 1, the kinds of words you’re now reading may be enough to force groups like the American Federation of Teachers or the NRA to disclose their donors.