MEMORANDUM FOR: FSC MEMBERS AND FRIENDS


FROM: DICK DINGMAN
SUBJECT: USA v. SSA Supreme Court Decision
DATE: June 6, 2006

You win some and you lose some. We lost this one.

This week, the US Supreme Court denied cert for the USA v. SSA case. No explanation was given. You can see the Court's order at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/orders/courtorders/053006pzor.pdf and the docket sheet for this case at http://www.supremecourtus.gov/docket/05-929.htm.

What does this mean for free speech in the non-profit world? It means that the current federal language remains in force, restricting selected words from certain types of usage in direct mail operations. It also leaves open the door for future federal agencies to seek similar restriction of free speech, and for the Congress to seize upon this method to curtail unwanted constituent mail. Freedom of speech in direct mail is very much at risk.

The Free Speech Coalition and all its members and friends will have to remain alert to future potential expansion of the list of 'forbidden words' in order to act quickly and decisively to head off such legislative attempts.