Hutchinson v. Proxmire (No. 78-680) ___
Syllabus	Opinion [ Burger ]	Dissent [ Brennan ]
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BRENNAN, J., Dissenting Opinion

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

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443 U.S. 111

Hutchinson v. Proxmire

CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

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No. 78-680 Argued: April 17, 1979 --- Decided: June 26, 1979

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MR. JUSTICE BRENNAN, dissenting.

I disagree with the Court's conclusion that Senator Proxmire's newsletters and press releases fall outside the protection of the speech or debate immunity. In my view, public criticism by legislators of unnecessary governmental expenditures, whatever its form, is a legislative act shielded by the Speech or Debate Clause. I would affirm the judgment below for the reasons expressed in my dissent in Gravel v. United States, 408 U.S. 606, 648 (1972).