Twenty conservative groups: SB 127 would have ‘chilling effect on free speech in Georgia’

April 1, 2015 - Atlanta - Senate staffer Joseph Castleberry preps senate binders for the last day of the session. House and senate staffers were busy preparing for Sine Die, day 40 of this years legislative session, which is April 2. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM Staffer Joseph Castleberry preps Senate binders for the last day of the session. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

Credit: Jim Galloway

Credit: Jim Galloway

April 1, 2015 - Atlanta - Senate staffer Joseph Castleberry preps senate binders for the last day of the session. House and senate staffers were busy preparing for Sine Die, day 40 of this years legislative session, which is April 2. BOB ANDRES / BANDRES@AJC.COM Staffer Joseph Castleberry preps Senate binders for the last day of the session. Bob Andres, bandres@ajc.com

Leaders of 20 national and local conservative action groups have signed onto a letter protesting an amended SB 127, which they said would "have a chilling effect on free speech in Georgia by restricting the ability of nonprofit organizations to engage in public debates and political discourse."

Signers include Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, Jenny Beth Martin of Tea Party Patriots, Erick Erickson of Redstate.com, and Jason Pye of FreedomWorks.

The AJC's Chris Joyner has your background at myAJC.com. A taste:

The letter of protest is addressed to the six House and Senate conferees, now negotiating final details, and to Gov. Nathan Deal. Read it below: