Posted on 03/22/2006 10:00:28 PM PST by MNJohnnie
H.R.1606
Title: To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude communications over the Internet from the definition of public communication.
Sponsor: Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5] (introduced 4/13/2005) Cosponsors (9)
Related Bills: H.R.1605, S.678
http://cha.house.gov/
Latest Action: Committee approves Online Freedom of Speech Act
http://www.senate.gov/
Use your Freedoms or lose them. Copy of my email to all my Reps and Senators below
Dear (Congressperson) (Senator);
I am writing to you today to strongly urge you to support the passage of legislation being brought before you to exclude on line communications from the Campaign Finance laws. It would seem obvious that voluntary communication (i.e. logging onto a blog or website) should automatically be exempt from Campaign Laws. Unfortunately various establishment pressure groups do not like Free Speech. They would like to close down this form of voluntary communications.
Currently there is a bill coming before the Congress. I urge you to support the Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606/S 678. Do not support any of the watered down alternatives. Those are merely attempts by those who loath open debate to get the Government's Regulatory camel's nose under the tent flap. Online communication is a VOLUNTARY act. It in no way shape or form resembles a broadcast or published campaign ad. On the Net, the voter CHOOSES which websites to visit. It is completely outside any reasonable person's understanding how this could even be an issue of debate in the US Congress.
This is a serious matter that deserves prompt attention from the US Congress. I urge you to take all steps possible to see this measure passes quickly.
Thank you,
Either fight for them or lose them.
Thanks for post MNJ.
I bet you if they did block online politics they wouldn't touch DU. I smell libs and rinos thinking to much. They can't ban the likes of Rush and other conservative radio hosts, so they will try to ban conservative and pro-republican blogs and websites. What a bunch of POS!!!
BTTT
Thank you
If they regulate blogs and political websites out of existence then P2P versions will spring up to replace them.
Hard to regulate a P2P blog that has no central server.
Control could be through public key encryption...to allow for
authorized users to delete obscene posts..etc
That's why data havens exist. There is simply too much money to be made by some small, enterprising nation hosting stuff that's been driven out of its native country.
LOL, GMTA!
A better title would be: The Keep the Weblogs from Having to Flee Offshore to Preserve the First Amendment at Home Act of 2006 (KWHFOPFAHA). (KeepYourHandsOffa)
Google "offshore anonymous hosting" => 490,000 hits.
I guess I would rather they not regulate Free Speech at all which would be a better solution they finding ways around more Govt Regulation
BUMP!
BUMP!
opps sorry about the double post.
Reference bump
I hope you realize the irony of a blog or web-site needing to be hosted in some place like Pago, Pago to facilitate a discussion of United States elections, because such discussion is unlawful.
If the FEC votes to regulate web-sites, blogs, etc., I'd put that squarely in the responsibility of President Bush - he gets a significant say on who gets named to that Commission.
Bump
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