Apr 22, 2008 -- NAM's Supreme Court Denial and Upcoming Appeal: Statement of J. Gerald Hebert, Campaign Legal Center Executive Director

After failing to secure an emergency injunction in three federal courts in two business days, we are pleased to hear that the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has not decided to grant itself one to avoid disclosing its funders and plans to file an amended report. We hope that NAM's amended filing will be submitted quickly as it is already overdue in violation of the statute.

The Supreme Court saw through NAM's sensationalized portrayal of impending harassment and reprisals toward the association's funders and rejected the organization's claim for an injunction pending its appeal.

That promised appeal will run contrary to clear precedent that disclosure provisions serve the compelling governmental interest in providing full disclosure of lobbying activity and in protecting the integrity of the legislative process. NAM should not be able to operate as a curtain between its funders and the public as it works to manipulate the legislative process. Americans deserve to know who is paying to play in the nation's capital.