RedState.org: "Tomorrow the House will consider H.R. 1606, the online Freedom of Speech Act, which is identical to S. 678 introduced by Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid. This bill will protect citizen journalists, known as bloggers, from the heavy hand of federal regulation.
The Online Freedom of Speech Act does not promote soft money or weaken any existing campaign finance regulations. Rather, it recognizes that online political dialogue enhances public debate and should be allowed to flourish. New technologies will continue to make it easier for Americans to be active in politics. In a country where only 60 percent of eligible adults vote, we cannot afford to allow Federal Election Commission (FEC) to burden political participants with arbitrary and cumbersome rules.
If the FEC imposes any regulatory scheme on the Internet, bloggers will be in legal jeopardy. Only those bloggers who can afford to hire lawyers will remain active, and our democracy will suffer. I urge you to defend First Amendment rights on the Internet and support H.R. 1606 on Wednesday."
This is a bipartisan efforts to establish and protect the right of internet users to freely use the internet. The above quote was written by Republican Congressman, Jeb Hensarling (R-TX).
Give Charles Taylor's office a call to let him know you'd like him to join with both parties to support this important bill.
Washington Office
Phone: (202) 225-6401
Asheville Office
Phone: (828) 251-1988
4 comments:
this legislation sounds good, but it is a way for politicians to sidestep McCain/Feingold! Political blogs could be set up with lots of money funnelled to them from parties and candidates. We DO need to protect free speech, but we need to do it correctly. This is not the right way to do it.
Huzzah! Will call as soon as I step out of the library. I can join with you on this!!!
McCain Feingold is so full of holes that the displaced Texas prairie dogs have claimed it as their own.
If 527s like the Club For Growth and MoveOn are legal, then there's no reason blogs shouldn't be.
I'm a big fan of the following in election reform:
1. Full disclosure
2. Stricter limits on corporate giving
3. Looser limits on individual giving
OR
1. Federal funding to legitimate candidates, distributed evenly.
Blogs are blogs. If bloggers offer full disclosure, then money is just speech.
Thunder Pig!
I didn't even know you were lurking!
It's great to join with you on this, and I hope you'll come to the BlogAsheville Inaugural International Giblet Olympics and Gravy Guzzler!
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