Online Freedom Of Speech Act
From an article posted at Red State, and contributed by Congressman Jeb Hensarling:
“For those of you who are interested in tomorrow’s vote on the Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606), I wanted to make you aware of the following letter I just sent, with Representative Albert Wynn (D-MD), to each of our colleagues in support of the bill. Since the bill is being considered “under suspension of the rules,” it needs to garner more than a majority of votes (two-thirds of the Members present and voting). So make your support for H.R. 1606 both loud and vocal!
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.”
Please become informed on this issue, and contact your legislative representatives with the following phone number for the House of Representatives, 202-224-3121.
So get on those phones!
