Posted in Current Events

I recently penned a post giving you information about Senate Bill 1 regarding section 220 of that bill, which in will infringe on your rights to get information about what your government is doing and your voice on the matter.  Do you have time to devote each day to surfing for any and all issues set before Congress?  I don't.  I rely on grassroots groups to collect and disseminate that information to me.  When an issue arises that I want to learn more about, I can then research that particular topic and decide if I want to contact my congressmen about it. 

Today I received an email that I feel explains exactly what Congress is proposing to do to discourage and in many cases eliminate these groups from providing information about Congress's actions.  The email reminded me about an important detail that I had not posted about.  Section 220 will not just be stifling conservative groups, it will stifle the voice of ALL grassroots groups, even liberal ones.  Here is the email:

Americans For Limited Government     January 18, 2007 Grass-roots Groups Qualify as Lobbyists Under Ethics Bill Washington Times   The ethics bill before the Senate not only cracks down on lawmakers, but also subjects politically active ministers and neighborhood groups to the same rules as K Street lobbyists.   Under the legislation, grass-roots organizations that attempt to "influence the general public" to contact members of Congress would have to register as lobbyists and file financial reports -- or face a $200,000 fine. The requirements could apply to a preacher who goes on TV or radio and tells listeners to call their congressman in support of a particular issue, such as a constitutional amendment against homosexual "marriage."   But late last night, in the session's first display of the muscle that even a minority party has in the upper chamber, the entire ethics bill was jeopardized when Republicans blocked a procedural vote. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, had refused to allow a vote on an amendment to give the president authority to strip spending "earmarks" from bills.   Republicans retaliated by voting in near- lockstep against a parliamentary motion needed to vote on the entire bill. The motion won a 51-46 majority, far short of the two-thirds majority needed. No action is now scheduled on the bill, though negotiations between the two parties continued into the night.   The vote capped a day of squabbling over the ethics bill, in which the Senate's Democratic leaders clashed repeatedly with Republicans on numerous details, starting with the measure to broaden the scope of lobbyist rules. Democratic backers of the measure say it will expose phony grass-roots organizations, sometimes called "astroturf," that front for monied special interests.   "The problem is these organizations have hired guns paid by undisclosed special interest organizations," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, California Democrat and chairman of the Rules and Administration Committee.   She said the proposal was "bona fide, helpful and overdue."   But issue groups spanning the political spectrum -- from National Right to Life and Focus on the Family to the League of Conservation Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union -- say the expanded definition of lobbyist will imperil citizens' constitutional rights to free speech and to petition the government.   "This bill goes way too far," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU's Washington legislative office. "This gets at the citizen groups who are really the ones making their voices heard about our democracy."   An identical proposal has been introduced in the House.   The first Senate squabble stemmed from an amendment by Sen. Robert F. Bennett, Utah Republican, that would delete the provision on grass- roots lobbying.   "This should be struck from the bill," Mr. Bennett said. "I was taught in civics in high school that [contacting Congress members] was what we were supposed to do."     Americans For Limited Government getliberty.org email: info@getliberty.org phone: 703-383-0880

From what I have read over the last few days, some in Congress are tired of the mass emails and phone calls from you (the people who voted them into office) regarding issues that they are working on. 

I am uncertain if they are voting today or tomorrow, but if you haven't done so, and you disagree with this trampling of your First Ammendment rights, contact your representatives now!  IF you need to find the information to do so, click here and also click here.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

These are my thoughts.