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Advocacy Blog
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Blogger Protection Act
Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) has introduced the Blogger Protection Act of 2008, HR5699. The bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act to exempt bloggers and their internet activity from being considered as a contribution to or expenditure of a campaign. The bill would "cover blogs and other Internet and electronic publications under the general media exemption pertaining to expenditures." Therefore bloggers would be able to write about the positions of federal candidates without their material being considered a contribution to any campaign. What about bloggers at nonprofits?
The Center for Competitive Politics (CCP) supports this bill. A posting from CCP details chairman Bradley A. Smith's remarks; "The FEC eventually issued regulations two years ago preventing bloggers from being hampered by campaign finance laws. But the blogger protections are regulatory and bloggers do not enjoy statutory protection. 'Without this law, there is no guarantee that a future Commission won't regulate the blogosphere,' Smith observed. 'Congress doesn't need to act for regulations to change.'"
Posted by Amanda Adams
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