US Senate Bill would force political bloggers to register as lobbyists

[Kristijntje]

The following is a
statement by Richard A. Viguerie, Chairman of GrassrootsFreedom.com,
regarding legislation currently being considered by Congress to regulate
grassroots communications:

    "In what sounds like a comedy sketch from Jon Stewart's Daily Show, but
isn't, the U. S. Senate would impose criminal penalties, even jail time, on
grassroots causes and citizens who criticize Congress.

    "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. Section 220
would amend existing lobbying reporting law by creating the most expansive
intrusion on First Amendment rights ever. For the first time in history,
critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself.

    "The bill would require reporting of 'paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying,' but defines 'paid' merely as communications to 500 or
more members of the public, with no other qualifiers...

full article: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/01-16-2007/0004507242&EDATE=TUE+Jan+16+2007,+06:34+PM

[bargainbloodhound]

the U. S. Senate would impose criminal penalties, even jail time, on
grassroots causes and citizens who criticize Congress.

For the first time in history,
critics of Congress will need to register and report with Congress itself.

The quote below says it all (although this will be just the latest in a series of laws in recent series that have sharply curtailed free speech).

creating the most expansive intrusion on First Amendment rights ever.

[BellisimaJ.]

bolding is mine.

"The bill would require reporting of 'paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying,' but defines 'paid' merely as communications to 500 or
more members of the public, with no other qualifiers..

If the Dems let this one go through, I am becoming an Independent. >

[BellisimaJ.]

Trying to post an image and it isn't working.

[mandy]

Update:

The U.S. Senate has rejected a proposal that may have required some political bloggers to register as lobbyists or face prison time.

By a 55-43 vote on Thursday evening, the senators approved an amendment that dropped a controversial section dictating such regulations from a massive piece of federal lobbying legislation.

Seven Democrats joined 48 Republicans voting in favor of the amendment, which was proposed by Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah). No Republicans voted against the measure...

full article: http://news.com.com/Lobby+bill+spares+po...=nefd.lede