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In a letter to the Judiciary Committee, Americans for Tax Reform supported H.R. 5063, which would put an end to interest group favoritism by the Obama Administration.

Currently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) forces private companies, who settle lawsuits, to donate to administration-friendly groups. This is a bold-faced abuse of power and has caused many in Congress to take action.

The Committee just approved the bill by an 18-6 vote. Committee Chair, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Antitrust Subcommittee Chair, Tom Marino (R-PA) offered praise for the legislation. This is an important first step in getting this crucial legislation passed to rein in executive overreach.

Read the full letter below:

 

May 11, 2016

Dear Members of the Judiciary Committee:

We urge you to support H.R. 5063, the “Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act.”

HR 5063 would stop the shakedown of companies forced to pay special interest groups friendly to the Administration.

As part of their settlement agreements, the DOJ is forcing companies that settle lawsuits with the government to donate to special interest groups. It is never appropriate to favor a particular advocacy group or political position in this manner. This is a huge abuse of power.

No executive branch, Republican or Democratic, should have that kind of banana-republic power. These settlements are clearly abusive. We must maintain real justice under the law.

We encourage the Judiciary Committee to send this legislation to the floor for full consideration. It is common sense legislation that would ensure that the executive branch, no matter the administration in power, does not circumvent Congressional authority.

Please contact Katie McAuliffe by email, [email protected], or phone, 202-785-0266, with any questions or comments.

Onward,

Grover G. Norquist