Political Bloggers May Be Forced To Register as Lobbyists
In response to a bill currently being considered by Congress, Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of Grassroots Freedom, had the following to say:
Section 220 of S. 1, the lobbying reform bill currently before the Senate, would require grassroots causes, even bloggers, who communicate to 500 or more members of the public on policy matters, to register and report quarterly to Congress the same as the big K Street lobbyists.
The bill, which according to the organization, allows the government to regulates small, legitimate nonprofits, bloggers, and individuals, but at the same time leaves loopholes for unions, and other large organizations and corporations, is being labeled as one that makes exercising your First Amendment rights a crime.
A petition to stop this bill can be accessed here, and more information is available at here.
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Mu,
If you think that is rough.
Bloggers may be tried under the UCMJ a slippery bill just passed by congress.
That’s Universal Code of Military Justice for non military geeks.
By David Krug on January 17, 2007 5:51 pm
Really its the end of freedom of speech in this country.
Thanks Congress. :)
By David Krug on January 17, 2007 5:55 pm
Luckily we threw the Republicans out and put the Democrats in. Doh. :(
The more things change the more they stay the same. Politicians are politicians…and what concerns them most if getting re-elected. Silencing criticism goes a long way towards that goal.
By doug on January 18, 2007 4:14 am
Yeah I’m not sold on Dems or Repubs. Seriously we need a new party. The party of the not so corruptable.
By David Krug on January 18, 2007 4:34 am
Yeah. Although that may involve having robots run the country, rather than humans.
By doug on January 18, 2007 9:44 am
I’m not opposed to robots seriously.
By David Krug on January 18, 2007 9:46 am
So, I just got off the phone after calling both my senators here in Maryland. It sounds like they are getting decent push back from constituents on Section 220 of S. 1 (Cardin’s people put me on hold three times).
As with all controversial legislation, politicians have “no official position” until they have to vote…but calling your elected representatives doesn’t hurt, I suppose.
It would be awesome if someone in the blogosphere was aggregating senators’ positions on this issue.
By doug on January 18, 2007 12:12 pm
I agree we need something like that. Ugh. Maybe It’s time I picked up the batphone.
By David Krug on January 18, 2007 12:17 pm
[...] Gotta love Congress and the Old Gaurd. If you don’t understand it or like it, legislate it. Legislate it out of existence. From 9:01AM I found this disturbing bit: [...]
By Politico bloggers lobbyists? Hmm, I think not at Blog the Campaign in 08 on January 18, 2007 5:26 pm