November 18, 2005

Online Freedom of Speech

Remember the Online Freedom of Speech Act that was defeated in the House a couple of weeks ago? The Democrats, realizing their mistake in voting against free speech, now have their own version.

A BILL

To amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exempt news stories, commentaries, and editorials distributed through the Internet from treatment as expenditures or electioneering communications under such Act, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXEMPTION OF INTERNET COMMENTARY FROM TREATMENT AS EXPENDITURE OR ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATION.

(a) TREATMENT AS EXPENDITURE.-Section 301(9)(B)(i) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2 U.S.C. 431(9)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting ''the Internet or'' after ''facilities of''.

(b) TREATMENT AS ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATION.-Section 304(f)(3)(B)(i) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 434(f)(3)(B)(i)) is amended by inserting ''the Internet or'' after ''facilities of''.

I personally preferred the first, one-sentence version, but this one will do for now.

I wonder if Harold Ford Jr. and the other Tennessee Congress members who voted against the first bill will make the same mistake twice.

Comments:

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I just noticed that you blogrolled me. I'm astonished and pleased. Many thanks.

Posted by: Pat rick Joubert Conlon at November 19, 2005 09:49 PM