The Honorable J. Dennis Hastert
Speaker
U.S. House of Representatives
H232 The Capitol

Dear Speaker Hastert:

I was extremely concerned to learn of a coordinated campaign by Grover Norquist and others to prepare personal dossiers on individuals in order to determine whether they have connections with the Democratic Party or have ever contributed to Democrats.  The campaign finance and lobbying disclosure laws enacted by Congress were never intended to be used to blacklist individuals, and I believe that Americans across the nation are outraged that the Republican Party would use this information for discriminatory purposes.
 
What is even more disturbing is that this information may be used by Republican legislators in the House.  In yesterday’s Washington Post article, “GOP Monitoring Lobbyists’ Politics; White House, Hill Access May be Affected,” Representative Tom Davis, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, is quoted as saying that making contributions to the Democratic Party can “buy you enemies” and that House committee chairmen may make use of the Norquist hit list. 

You have demonstrated a desire for bipartisanship and cooperation in the House of Representatives.  Therefore, I urge you to condemn the Norquist project and the statements of Representative Davis that it may be used to determine who gets access and who is able to participate in our legislative process.  This type of partisan prejudice has no place in the House of Representatives.  I hope that you will act immediately to assure all your colleagues and the American public that it will never influence our actions in the House.