Shhhhhhhh! Im Lobbying!

Old habits die hard they say and evidently the Democrats in Congress are holding true to the old adage.  Remember the infamous “Grassroots Gag Order” in the Senate earlier this year that conservatives successfully killed?  This was the bill (S 1) that would have slammed the door shut on free speech by grassroots organizations across the country – conservative or liberal. 

Thankfully our senators heard our voices and we were able to convince them that such an attack on our First Amendment right would not be tolerated…evidently those across the Capitol did not get the memo.

Within the next few days the House Judiciary Committee will be holding hearings on H.R. 2093 by Representative Martin T. Meehan (D-MA) which once again targets grassroots organizations.  Along with new reporting requirements new dollar amounts and new regulations the bill essentially redefines lobbying to include grassroots organizations. 

Take for example Oprah Winfrey’s website encouraging people to contact their elected officials about Darfur Africa.  As a joint letter signed by everyone from the Eagle Forum and the NRA to the American Family Association and the ACLU explained the fact that the webmaster who created the site received over $100000 in a quarter from ALL of her clients Oprah must now report as a lobbying firm.  That’s right the new legislation considers all of a person’s clients when calculating whether he or she has been paid more than $100000 in a quarter.  This descriptor of a person’s contacts or clientele is regardless of who the clients are what they are paying for or even if they are doing anything political…how about that other old adage one bad apple will spoil the whole barrel? 

Citizens and grassroots organizations alike should not be concerned about fines and penalties for speaking their minds but Representative Meehan evidently thinks otherwise.  Why add such draconian language to a lobbying statute that already works?  Sorry to beat a dead horse but if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! 

Are you getting the picture yet?  Just as we can remember old sayings we need to remember that we have a right to say them!  Our voices can and should be heard because that is how America’s founders intended our government to work!

America is a society like no other in the world – for the people by the people – and putting walls up between the people and our representatives we work so hard to elect is not only unfair but also dangerous.  We must have the opportunity to share our thoughts and opinions with those making life changing decisions everyday and we must be able to do so without filing with the government as a lobbying firm. 

Whether it is a direct mail piece a new website or an email we should all be able to contribute to the political dialog for free!  Grassroots organizations that do make an effort to notify us about important bills should also be free to do so and not be subject to more governmental red tape regulations and fees.

I would encourage you to visit the House Judiciary Committee’s website contact them and share (for free) your opinion that HR 2093 is wrong for the people!

Gina Parker Ford !CEO of Dental Creations Ltd. a dental manufacturing company and a successful attorney ! is the National Eagle Forum Chairman for Judicial Reform. For more information please visit www.ginaparker.net.