“U.S. PIRG is pleased that the House Leadership has pulled H.R. 1606, the Online Freedom of Speech Act sponsored by Representative Hensarling (TX), from the calendar in recognition of the appropriate balance struck by the FEC rules approved this past Monday.
The decision is a dual victory for fairness and free speech.
Mr. Hensarling’s bill was nothing more than a wolf in sheep’s clothing offering false promises to individual online speakers.
Unlike HR 1606, the FEC rules offer explicit protection for individual speakers and they extend the same exemption to online media that is currently enjoyed by other media. In doing so, the FEC did not re-open the door to new, unlimited contributions from powerful interests. Political parties will now be required to abide by contribution limits when purchasing ads to promote or attack federal candidates.
Representatives Charles Bass (NH) and Tom Allen (ME) deserve enormous credit for their efforts to promote fair and effective rules for online campaigning. Their leadership paved the way for a responsible compromise that maintains the integrity of our campaign finance laws while providing honest protection for individuals who engage in political speech online.”
U.S. PIRG is the national advocacy office for the state Public Interest Research Groups. State PIRGs are non-profit, non-partisan public interest advocacy organizations.
