FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 20, 2014
Contact: Mallory Quigley, [email protected], 703-380-6674
Pro-life Group Files for Preliminary Injunction Against “False” Statement Law
WASHINGTON, DC – This morning the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List (SBA List) filed for a preliminary injunction against the Ohio “false statement” law that violates basic First Amendment principles and has chilled the group’s political speech since 2010. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that SBA List has standing to challenge the law on First Amendment grounds.
During the upcoming 2014 midterm elections, SBA List wants to criticize additional Members of Congress who voted for the Affordable Care Act and thereby supported taxpayer funded abortion. In order to participate fully in this democratic debate without fear of repercussions under the Ohio law, SBA List is seeking immediate judicial relief.
“Our goal from the beginning has been to educate Ohio voters about the multiple abortion-funding provisions in Obamacare and expose those elected officials who voted for it,” said Marjorie Dannenfelser, President of the Susan B. Anthony List. “Everything we have argued is true and the reality of abortion-funding in Obamacare will continue to be an issue in the midterm elections and future election cycles. SBA List must be permitted to continue educating voters – both in Ohio as well as in other battleground states. If granted, this injunction will allow us to continue our efforts to inform voters without fear of prosecution.”
Background: The Affordable Care Act provides new federal tax subsidies that will finance elective abortion coverage for millions of women who did not have such insurance, expands state Medicaid program coverage of elective abortion for millions of women in dozens of states, and uses federal funds to finance elective abortion coverage for members of Congress and their staff. In 2010, SBA List attempted to erect billboards to expose that former Rep. Steve Driehaus supported taxpayer funded abortion by voting for the Affordable Care Act. SBA List was prevented from doing so because of the Ohio law, and was threatened with prosecution if it engaged in similar speech about Driehaus or other candidates in Ohio.
The Susan B. Anthony List and its Political Action Committees, the SBA List Candidate Fund and Women Speak Out PAC, are dedicated to pursuing policies and electing candidates who will reduce and ultimately end abortion. To that end, the SBA List emphasizes the education, promotion, mobilization, and election of pro-life women. The SBA List is a network of more than 365,000 pro-life Americans nationwide.
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