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Holy Schnikeys! (updated)
Wonkette is reporting that Congress is currently considering a bill pushed forward by a couple of Republicans (Utah Senator David Vitter and Louisianna Senator Robert Bennett) that 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 way as the big K Street lobbyists.
Though bloggers aren’t specifically named in the bill, anyone who engages in grassroots lobbying would have to sign up with Congress if they try to influence the public, make more than $25,000 a year, and reach 500 people or more. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see that, at the very least, a handful of political bloggers would be forced to register with Congress, lest they face criminal penalties, including up to one year in prison.
The bill passed the Senate earlier this month. And it comes on the heels of another piece of legislation floating around Congress, sponsored by John McCain, which would fine websites and blogs $300,000 for offensive statements, photos and videos posted by visitors on comment boards.
Update: This stupid proposition has been voted down and stripped out of the lobby reform bill. The Republicans actually did something right for a change!
Comments
You got your Senators mixed up. Bennett is from Utah, Vitter is from Louisiana.
Posted by jim xavier | January 19, 2007 4:57 PM