Grassroots Lobbying Restrictions Resurface
- May 9, 2007 - comment
A proposed set of restrictions on grassroots lobbying that was defeated in the Senate has reared its ugly head in the House in a different, though just as dangerous, form, with the chamber moving toward a vote before the Memorial Day recess. The legislation, if passed, threatens to severely encroach on the First Amendment right to petition the government and encumber pro-family organizations and other groups from communicating their concerns with interested individuals.
Last week, Rep. Marty Meehan (D-MA) introduced H.R. 2093, which would require many pro-family organizations, churches, and even individuals that encourage others to express their concerns to their elected leaders to register as “lobbying firms” and provide detailed quarterly reports of all their activities and estimated funds spent to stimulate grassroots efforts.
If you are concerned that H.R. 2093 would severely restrict your First Amendment rights to receive information on the issues before Congress and to express your concerns to your elected officials, please tell your congressman to oppose Rep. Meehan’s grassroots lobbying legislation, H.R. 2093.
Not surprisingly, the bill does not even mention the word “grassroots,” but merely redefines terms such as “lobbying firm” to include average citizens as “lobbyists.” More specifically, H.R. 2093 would classify as a “lobbying firm” “a person or entity that is retained by 1 or more clients (other than that person or entity) to engage in paid communications campaigns to influence the general public to lobby Congress, and receives income of, or spends or agrees to spend, an aggregate of $100,000 or more for such efforts in any quarterly period.”
Under H.R. 2093, many pro-family organizations would spend needless time tracking the “who, what, when, where, and why” of their communications, as well as the estimated money spent on such activities. Those who fail to register as a “lobbying firm” or provide inaccurate quarterly reports could face $200,000 fines per infraction and even 10 years in prison, if the bill is merged with the Senate-passed S. 1. It appears many supporters of H.R. 2093 simply are tired of hearing the concerns of faith-affirming Americans and wish to keep them in the dark on what issues Congress is debating.
The House Judiciary Committee could mark up the bill, which would likely be offered as an amendment to a larger lobbying reform package, as soon as May 11, and the full House could begin debate as soon as late next week.
The Senate squashed proposed restrictions on grassroots communications in January by passing 55-43 Sen. Robert Bennett’s (R-UT) amendment to S. 1. But if the House passes Rep. Meehan’s dangerous legislation, it could be ultimately included in a final bill negotiated by a House-Senate conference committee.
If you are concerned that H.R. 2093 would severely restrict your First Amendment rights to receive information on the issues before Congress and to express your concerns to your elected officials, please tell your congressman to oppose Rep. Meehan’s grassroots lobbying legislation, H.R. 2093.
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