Grass Roots Lobbying in Danger of Becoming Illegal

Remember the novel "1984" by George Orwell? We all know that Big Brother is here. And he's getting ready to take another huge chunk out of American freedoms.

The House Judiciary Committee plans to consider the House lobbying reform bill by the end of May. Two other bills are on the table as possible amendments: H.R. 2093 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4097 and H.R. 984 http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=4098 .

These bills have the potential to be reworded to prevent grass roots lobbying. This effects any of the organizations that send emails, letters, or other wise place notices to individuals encouraging them to contact their congressmen either for or against a particular bill. Organizations such as the ASPCA, NRA, HSLDA, and thousands of others could be affected by this bill.

H.R. 2093, a bill to "Amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995," will control attempts to urge citizens to contact their elected representatives by broadening the definition of a "lobbying firm" to include entities that spend, receive or agree to spend or receive $100,000 per quarter on such lobbying activities. Such groups send "alert" emails when upcoming bills may change the laws against the various things the groups were formed to protect. The groups range from homeschool organizations, to animal protection rights groups, gun ownership associations, and many more.

H.R. 984, the "Executive Branch Reform Act of 2007" will require over 9,000 employees in the Executive Branch to report any "significant contact" between the employee and a citizen about any official government action. Obviously, their is much danger in the wording. How can you quantitatively define "significant contact"? Does that mean employees aren't allowed to make casual conversation with their political representatives for fear of having "significant contact"? No casual mention of any upcoming legislation? Does this not impair "Freedom of Speech" as guaranteed by our forefathers back in 1776. Such freedoms were the reasons thousands have died and why we fought to become our own country.

These bills could be voted on as early as May 22. So here's to grass roots lobbying. Contact your congressmen and say no! Let them know that Americans want to be kept informed. We want to be allowed to choose whether or not we support the various groups. We want to be able to call up our representatives and say "aye" or "nay". And government employees should haven't to fear having a "significant conversation" let alone having to report one. Next on the agenda -- let's do away with freedom of the press and regulate what government employees tell any writers.....