Democrats' elections bill raises major free speech concerns, experts warn

Election legislation being pushed by Democrats raises First Amendment concerns, former FEC Chairman Brad Smith said.

But new disclosure requirements under the bill would have a chilling effect in today's "blacklist culture," former FEC Chairman Brad Smith told Fox News in an interview Thursday. The legislation would impose tougher donor disclosure requirements on nonprofits and other groups.  "The Supreme Court has long recognized that forced disclosure can frighten people away from speaking. … We think that’s what’s intentional, that’s what the sponsors of this bill hope to happen," said Smith, who is now the chairman of the Institute of Free Speech. "It should be none of the government's business."