Legislation: Legislation Archive 109th Congress: Internet Anti-Corruption and Free Speech Protection Act of 2005

Mar 30, 2006 -- House Republican Leadership Postpones Floor Action on H.R. 1606

House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) issued a statement Wednesday, saying that in light of the recent FEC action, floor action on H.R. 1606 will be postponed.

Mar 28, 2006

In a letter sent to all Representatives on March 28, the Campaign Legal Center and other reform groups urged House members to vote for Representatives Bass and Allen's amendment that would codify the new FEC internet regulation.

Mar 16, 2006 -- Statement from Reform Groups on H.R. 4900 and H.R. 1606

In a statement released on March 16, 2006, the Legal Center and other reform groups applauded the efforts of House members in protecting both Internet users and the nation's campaign finance laws.

Mar 15, 2006 -- Groups Urge BCRA Supporters to Oppose H.R. 1606 and Vote for H.R. 4900

On March 15, 2006, the Campaign Legal Center and other reform groups sent a letter to House supporters of BCRA urging them to oppose H.R. 1606 and vote for H.R. 4900. The letter states, "H.R 1606 would fundamentally undermine the BCRA legislation you supported, the most important campaign finance reform law enacted in a generation."

Mar 14, 2006 -- Reform Groups Urge Members to Oppose Any Rule that Does Not Allow the House to Vote on H.R. 4900

In a letter sent to all House members March 14, 2006, the Campaign Legal Center and other reform groups urged Representatives to vote against any rule that does not allow the House to vote on H.R. 4900 as a substitute for H.R. 1606.

Mar 10, 2006 -- Reform Groups Urge House Members to Support Internet Free Speech Without Opening Loopholes for Corrupting Soft Money

In a letter sent to the Hill Friday, March 10, the Campaign Legal Center, along with other reform groups, urged representatives to support H.R.4900, the "Internet Free Speech Protection Act of 2006," introduced by Representatives Tom Allen (D-ME) and Charles Bass (R-NH), when this matter is considered by the full House on March 15.

Mar 3, 2006 -- Reform Groups Urge House Members to Support Proposal by Center for Democracy and Technology to Exempt Bloggers from Campaign Finance Laws without Opening Loopholes

In a letter sent on March 3, 2006, reform groups urged House Members to support a proposal by the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) that would exempt bloggers from the campaign finance laws without opening loopholes in the laws. The letter also urged House Members to vote against H.R. 1606, introduced by Representative Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), which would create a blanket Internet exemption from the campaign finance laws and open gaping soft money loopholes in the laws.

March 3, 2006 -- Reform Groups Send Letter to Hill Urging Members to Vote No to H.R. 1606

Bill Summary

Reps. Shays and Meehan introduced this bill into Congress on Nov. 1, 2005. The bill is to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude communications over the Internet from treatment as public communications for purposes of such Act.

Defeat of H.R. 1606

The Campaign Legal Center along with Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters, Public Citizen and U.S. PIRG worked successfully -- on very short notice -- in defeating H.R. 1606, introduced by Rep. Hensarling (R-TX), on the suspension calendar.