Cincinnati, OH (April 19, 2006) – In the wake of recent scandals involving lobbyists, Congress is eager to pass lobby reform. But in the process, the Senate is taking away the treasured right of grassroots citizens and organizations to communicate with members of Congress.
The Senate has passed the Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act of 2006. The problem is the attached Lieberman-Levin Amendment. It will place severe and aggressive governmental restrictions on pro-life organizations or other groups that wish to participate in the democratic process. Those entities that ask 500 or more people to speak with their elected officials will be subject to considerable government red tape. Churches would be subject to the same restrictions, even when they want to speak out on clear moral issues like abortion or same-sex marriage. There will be huge fines for noncompliance.
Bradley Mattes, Executive Director of Life Issues Institute, said, This is Big Brother run amuck! Churches and organizations will in effect have to get congressional ‘permission’ to exercise their right to speak out on critical moral issues of the day. They are trying to silence our voices.
This amendment equates democracy with high power lobbyists. The House will take up the bill the week of April 24. It is URGENT that individuals and organizations contact key Senate and House leaders, as well as their own federally elected officials, as soon as possible. Ask them to oppose any provisions that restrict grassroots activity in the final conference committee version of the lobbying reform bill.
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About Life Issues Institute: Life Issues Institute is dedicated to changing hearts and minds of millions of people through education. Organizations and individuals around the world depend upon Life Issues Institute to provide the latest information and effective tools to protect innocent human life from womb to tomb.
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