I just received this from one of my senators:
Thank you for contacting me about how the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-155) addresses the matter of web logs. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this issue.
As you may know, P.L. 107-155 amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 by increasing the limit on “hard money”—regulated donation limits on direct campaign contributions used to influence elections—and bans “soft money”—money raised outside federal election restrictions and used to indirectly influence elections. In addition, the law regulates certain political communication for a specific period preceding an election.
As a strong supporter of personal freedoms, I understand the concerns many Americans have regarding the limits on political speech mandated by P.L. 107-155. I believe in making America’s campaign process transparent while protecting the liberty from which our political freedoms stem. I do not believe it is the government’s role to restrict the free exercise of expression, and I support congressional action protecting this right.
I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate, and you may be certain that I will continue to closely monitor this issue. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.
Sincerely,
JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator
Wallace, you can return his shorts, now.
John is a good man. So is Kay Bailey in my opinion. Good woman anyway. Sen. Kay has been out here to the hinterlands of West Texas quite often and most of the times she is here she holds a press conference and fields questions from any and all who attend.
Comment by Wallace-Midland, Texas — March 25, 2005 @ 8:41 pm
Color me cynical here. I see polite noises, but no promises or plans to act. “I support…” is Washington-speak for “I want your vote, so I have to sound concerned.”
I would respectfully ask the Honorable Senator Cornyn what legislation or amendments he plans to introduce or support that will reinforce our rights. We need specifics, not generalities.
And yes, I would ask the same of my own Senators; but seeing as I’m stuck with hacks like Senator Levin and Senator Stabenow, I don’t see as it’s worth the effort. Their election success does not require votes from people like me, so they’re not even listening.
Comment by UML Guy — March 26, 2005 @ 12:11 am
I’m pretty much always cynical about politicians. Fortunately, here in Texas we don’t have the powerful political machines as do many of the northern states. We have them, but more at the local level. And unions don’t swing as big a club here.
I intend to submit to both my own version of campaign reform, and push to get BCRA repealed. This is a Constitutional issue which is as clear-cut as any that have come before Congress in my memory. If we don’t press the issue here, what hope is there for situations where the right thing isn’t quite so obvious?
Comment by Bunker — March 26, 2005 @ 6:22 am
Hey my shorts were pretty soiled about this too!
Charles
Comment by discerningtexan — March 27, 2005 @ 10:52 pm