Freedom Center of Missouri

VICTORY: Eighth Circuit Rules First Amendment Protects Citizen Activists’ Speech

November 1, 2019 Dave

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 1, 2019 CONTACT: Dave Roland, (314)604-6621 Eighth Circuit: First Amendment Protects Unpaid Activists Who Share Policy Ideas With Legislators Nearly three years ago the Missouri Ethics Commission ordered Ron Calzone, an unpaid grassroots activist, to pay a $1,000 fine and prohibited him from discussing policy with lawmakers until he registered and filed reports as though he was a professional “lobbyist.” Because the First Amendment guarantees the freedom to share one’s policy ideas with public officials, Calzone…

Volunteers Are Lobbyists, Rules Eighth Circuit: Sharply Divided Panel Deals Severe Blow to the First Amendment

November 28, 2018 Dave

Mexico, MO – Today, an Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled, 2-1, that unpaid citizen activists can be forced to comply with the same registration, reporting, and disclosure requirements as professional lobbyists working for large corporations. This decision is unprecedented and represents a significant strike against Americans’ First Amendment right “to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Ron Calzone is a citizen activist from Dixon, Missouri, who has for years traveled to the State Capitol to share his…

Ron Calzone Explains Our Citizen Activist Speech Case

November 28, 2017 Dave

In the above video, Ron Calzone explains in his own words the basis and critical importance of our Citizen Activist Free Speech case. This case involves a Missouri statute that requires citizen activists to register as lobbyists and (under threat of huge fines and criminal penalties) to file regular reports with the government regarding efforts to talk to government officials about public policy – even if no one is paying the activist to speak on their behalf. The Missouri Ethics…