- Last year the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
reeled from a tidal wave of public protest to their "anti-hate bill."
Now a coalition of powerful pro-hate bill senators, led by Carl Levin and
Joe Lieberman plus Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi,
House Speaker, are attempting to pass legislation that will severely hamper
such citizen activism.
-
- Levin and Lieberman's hidden agenda is contained
as Sec. 220 within the newest version of the lobbying reform bill: S.1,
The Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007.
-
- Dr. Dobson Warns Us
-
- Dr. James Dobson's alert of last year remains
urgent: "Senator McCain, who authorized the Lobby Reform Bill did
not include language that put constraints on grassroots activists, but
Senators Joe Lieberman and Carl Levin added an amendment to do just that."
1
-
- Keri Houston, spokesperson for The Lobby
Sense, explains what Levin and Lieberman added:
-
- "Specific provisions of these bills would diminish
the citizen voice and significantly reduce the ability of grassroots organizations
to continue to express and promote the people's will... The legislation
defines grassroots lobbying as any attempt to influence the public... Legions
of citizen organizations, small businesses, and even individuals would
become subject to onerous registration and reporting requirements, simply
because they were trying to motivate the public to support a position or
a point of view." 2
-
- Solution in Search of a Problem
-
- Especially after the Abramoff bribery scandal,
it is proper for Sen. McCain's bill, as it was originally written, to address
lobbying abuses. Yet, America does not have a problem with too much public
concern and activism at the grassroots level. Just the opposite. Civic
apathy, not activism, is the overwhelming threat to freedom. Nor does grassroots
activism have any significant history of graft and scandal.
-
- Liberal Jewish activists Levin and Leiberman
don't see it that way. After all, three times in the past two years grassroots
America has helped defeat ADL's cherished federal hate bill. We voted down
same-sex marriage. We forced NBC to cancel its blasphemous program "The
Book of Daniel."
-
- In reaction, Levin and Lieberman want grassroots
America subject to the suspicions and restrictions imposed on federal lobbyists
and members of Congress. How do they propose to legislate such restrictions?
In Sec. 220 they define "grassroots lobbying" as the act of communicating
your views to the government. If you make a call to Congress expressing
your point of view, you are involved in grassroots lobbying.
-
- Levin and Lieberman would permit such local
activism, at least for now. But if an individual or an organization encourages
calls to members of Congress from as few as 500 people and receives donations
or payments toward that end totaling $25,000 during a 3-month period, they
will have to register with the federal government as a "grassroots
lobbyist firm." ($25,000 is not enough to purchase a full-page ad
in a major newspaper.) They will also have to file extensive reports to
satisfy federal curiosity concerning who gave, how much, how it was dispersed,
for what cause, etc.
-
- One of the most disturbing provisions of
this bill is that anyone who pays dues or makes contributions to the grassroots
lobbyist organization, donates time to it, is involved in its governance,
is an honorary or life member, or is an employee, officer, director, or
member is considered a member of that organization. Such a person, if he
is to continue to associate as a member will be expected by the organization
to share the cost of the possible $100,000 fine if quarterly reports to
the government are inaccurate or not on time.
-
- This also means that the head of the organization,
the one who actually receives or donates $25,000 per quarter, is responsible
to report to the government the lobbying activities of those whose efforts
are funded as part of his legal entity.
-
- The implication of this is catastrophic to
grassroots lobbying organizations such as Christian conservative political
action groups and politically active churches. Many organizations will
be unwilling to be held accountable for the paid lobbying activities of
their members. Many members will decline to support or be associated with
grassroots lobbying organizations for fear of being expected to share the
cost of huge federal penalties if the organization does not please the
state.
-
- How will many politically active churches
finally respond? They'll decide it's not worth the hassle and forsake moral
issues and political activism altogether. In other words, they will just
preach "the gospel" and let the liberals run the country.
-
- What Do ADL/Levin/Lieberman Really Want?
-
- These liberal Jewish activists, along with
the Jewish Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, want to end Christian/conservative
activism in America. They also want to establish an Orwellian thought crimes
bureaucracy similar to Canada's, eradicating free speech. They resent the
power of the common man to thwart legislation vital to their objectives.
They want to diminish the power of grassroots America to protest, and be
protected in such protest by the First Amendment.
-
- But this is only the beginning. Although
it is necessary to restrict high-powered professional lobbyists in Washington,
D.C., if we give the government power to hamstring local, modestly paid
grassroots activists today, government will demand the right to do the
same to unpaid activists tomorrow.
-
- This is the situation in Canada under ADL/B'nai
B'rith's hate law passed in 1971. In Canada one does not just speak his
mind, even to a Member of Parliament. He looks to see if a policeman is
watching or listening. He asks, "Is my opinion tolerant enough? Will
some federally protected group be offended, reporting me to the hate crimes
gestapo? I could be fined $5,000 for an honest but careless remark and
go to prison if I continue to make such statements."
-
- ADL's Long-Term Goal
-
- ADL, Levin and Leiberman want Americans as
intimidated as Canadians. They want us so fearful of our own government
that an ADL-dominated thought crimes bureaucracy can pass whatever legislation
it wants, unrestrained by citizen protests. Right now ADL and their lackeys,
Nancy Pelosi in the House and Harry Reid in the Senate, desire to pass
a federal hate crimes law that will take America in the same direction
as Canada.
-
- Will they succeed? It depends on how loudly
we the people speak out. Here's what you can do today:
-
- The Senate will probably vote on the lobby
reform bill this Thursday. Call your Senators now at 1-202-224-3121 or
toll-free: 1-877-851-6437 or 1-866-340-9281. Tell them: "Please don't
vote for the lobby reform bill, S.1. Its Section 220 stifles free speech
by placing heavy reporting requirements on local grassroots lobbyists.
These are not guilty of corruption and should not be restricted."
-
- <http://www.truthtellers.org/>www.truthtellers.org
will soon post a powerful brochure that you can send to House members and
their legislative aides. There is a chance that even if the Senate passes
this oppressive legislation we can stop it in the House.
-
- Take Action Now! Next Week May Be Too Late!
-
-
- Endnotes:
-
- 1 Focus on the Family press release, "Lobby Reform
Bill Would Restrict Grassroots Activism," March 6, 2006. 2 "Congress
Set to Muzzle the Citizen Activist," Keri Houston, The Lobby Sense
Coalition, February 28, 2006.
-
-
- Here is Levin and Leiberman's attempt to stifle grassroots
lobbying:
-
- S.1
- To provide greater transparency in the legislative process.
(Placed on Calendar in Senate)
-
- SEC. 220. DISCLOSURE OF PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS
LOBBYING.
-
- (a) Definitions- Section 3 of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1602) is amended--
-
- (1) in paragraph (7), by adding at the end
of the following: `Lobbying activities include paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying, but do not include grassroots lobbying.'; and
-
- (2) by adding at the end of the following:
-
- `(17) GRASSROOTS LOBBYING- The term `grassroots
lobbying' means the voluntary efforts of members of the general public
to communicate their own views on an issue to Federal officials or to encourage
other members of the general public to do the same.
-
- `(18) PAID EFFORTS TO STIMULATE GRASSROOTS
LOBBYING-
-
- `(A) IN GENERAL- The term `paid efforts
to stimulate grassroots lobbying' means any paid attempt in support of
lobbying contacts on behalf of a client to influence the general public
or segments thereof to contact one or more covered legislative or executive
branch officials (or Congress as a whole) to urge such officials (or Congress)
to take specific action with respect to a matter described in section 3(8)(A),
except that such term does not include any communications by an entity
directed to its members, employees, officers, or shareholders.
-
- `(B) PAID ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE THE
GENERAL PUBLIC OR SEGMENTS THEREOF- The term `paid attempt to influence
the general public or segments thereof' does not include an attempt to
influence directed at less than 500 members of the general public.
-
- `(C) REGISTRANT- For purposes of this
paragraph, a person or entity is a member of a registrant if the person
or entity--
-
- `(i) pays dues or makes a contribution
of more than a nominal amount to the entity;
-
- `(ii) makes a contribution of
more than a nominal amount of time to the entity;
-
- `(iii) is entitled to participate
in the governance of the entity;
-
- `(iv) is 1 of a limited number
of honorary or life members of the entity; or
-
- `(v) is an employee, officer,
director or member of the entity.
-
- `(19) GRASSROOTS LOBBYING FIRM- The term
`grassroots lobbying firm' means a person or entity that--
-
- `(A) is retained by 1 or more clients
to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying on behalf of
such clients; and
-
- `(B) receives income of, or spends
or agrees to spend, an aggregate of $25,000 or more for such efforts in
any quarterly period.'.
-
- (b) Registration- Section 4(a) of the Act (2 U.S.C.
1603(a)) is amended--
-
- (1) in the flush matter at the end of paragraph
(3)(A), by adding at the end the following: `For purposes of clauses (i)
and (ii), the term `lobbying activities' shall not include paid efforts
to stimulate grassroots lobbying.'; and
-
- (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the
following:
-
- `(4) FILING BY GRASSROOTS LOBBYING FIRMS-
Not later than 45 days after a grassroots lobbying firm first is retained
by a client to engage in paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying,
such grassroots lobbying firm shall register with the Secretary of the
Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.'.
-
- (c) Separate Itemization of Paid Efforts To Stimulate
Grassroots Lobbying- Section 5(b) of the Act (2 U.S.C. 1604(b)) is amended--
-
- (1) in paragraph (3), by--
-
- (A) inserting after `total amount of
all income' the following: `(including a separate good faith estimate of
the total amount of income relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying and, within that amount, a good faith estimate of the
total amount specifically relating to paid advertising)'; and
-
- (B) inserting `or a grassroots lobbying
firm' after `lobbying firm';
-
- (2) in paragraph (4), by inserting after
`total expenses' the following: `(including a good faith estimate of the
total amount of expenses relating specifically to paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying and, within that total amount, a good faith estimate
of the total amount specifically relating to paid advertising)'; and
-
- (3) by adding at the end the following:
-
- `Subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (2) shall
not apply with respect to reports relating to paid efforts to stimulate
grassroots lobbying activities.'.
-
- (d) Good Faith Estimates and De Minimis Rules for
Paid Efforts To Stimulate Grassroots Lobbying-
-
- (1) IN GENERAL- Section 5(c) of the Act (2
U.S.C. 1604(c)) is amended to read as follows:
-
- `(c) Estimates of Income or Expenses- For purposes
of this section, the following shall apply:
-
- `(1) Estimates of income or expenses shall
be made as follows:
-
- `(A) Estimates of amounts in excess
of $10,0000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.
-
- `(B) In the event income or expenses
do not exceed $10,000, the registrant shall include a statement that income
or expenses totaled less than $10,000 for the reporting period.
-
- `(2) Estimates of income or expenses relating
specifically to paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying shall be
made as follows:
-
- `(A) Estimates of amounts in excess
of $25,000 shall be rounded to the nearest $20,000.
-
- `(B) In the event income or expenses
do not exceed $25,000, the registrant shall include a statement that income
or expenses totaled less than $25,000 for the reporting period.'.
-
- (2) TAX REPORTING- Section 15 of the Act
(2 U.S.C. 1610) is amended--
-
- (A) in subsection (a)--
-
- (i) in paragraph (1), by striking
`and' after the semicolon;
-
- (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
the period and inserting `; and'; and
-
- (iii) by adding at the end the
following:
-
- `(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid
efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those activities that
are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.'; and
-
- (B) in subsection (b)--
-
- (i) in paragraph (1), by striking
`and' after the semicolon;
-
- (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking
the period and inserting `; and'; and
-
- (iii) by adding at the end the
following:
-
- `(3) in lieu of using the definition of paid
efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying in section 3(18), consider as
paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying only those activities that
are grassroots expenditures as defined in section 4911(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986.'.
-
- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-
-
- TALK SHOW HOSTS: Interview Rev. Ted Pike immediately!
Call 503-631-3808.
-
- NATIONAL PRAYER NETWORK, P.O. Box 828, Clackamas, OR
97015
-
- <http://www.truthtellers.org/>www.truthtellers.org
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