The provision was aimed at paid efforts, not voluntary efforts, at grassroots lobbying. - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
McCain Sees the Light

Submitted by James, Jan 23, 2007 12:01

Technically speaking, the disclosure and registration requirements for people who want to spend money to get American citizens to contact Congress only apply to individuals and lobbying firms who spend $25,000 or $50,000 dollars (depending on whether it's the Senate version or the House version) in a three-month period (NOT an entire year, but three months) on behalf of one or more clients to stimulate grassroots lobbying. Voluntary efforts by citizens to contact federal officials or to encourage other members of the general public to do the same are in fact exempt from the registration and disclosure requirements in Section 220 of the Senate bill. Communications with a business's employees or organization's members by the owners/leaders of such entities are also exempt.

On another note, McCain-Feingold does NOT actually ban political ads mentioning a federal candidate within 30 days of a primary or 60 days of a general election. It only requires that radio and TV ads of such a nature be paid by hard money raised by a political action committee.

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.

Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
I would like to know when our freedom of speech will be restored to the NRA? Seems that certian legislators need... [MORE]	David P. Teel	Jan 24, 2007 10:31
McCain's efforts came too late to fix the travesty that is McCain-Feingold. The only thing he "gets" is the threat... [MORE]	Dagney	Jan 23, 2007 18:03
I forgot to mention that lobbying reform bills sponsored in both the House AND Senate both this year and last... [MORE]	James	Jan 23, 2007 13:59
Only the complete dismissal or revocation of this terrible piece of legislation by McCain himself will give him a chance... [MORE]	Rogers L. Marshall	Jan 23, 2007 13:06
McCain-Feingold was an assault on the constitution.Gang of 14 was an assault on true conservatives.If McCain is on my primary... [MORE]	Peter Christensen	Jan 24, 2007 01:24
Technically speaking, the disclosure and registration requirements for people who want to spend money to get American citizens to...	James	Jan 23, 2007 12:01
Unfortunatly the election philosophy of "Run to the right.......run to the Left..........run to the Middle" that our candidates have lived... [MORE]	David Lynn Smith	Jan 23, 2007 13:55
Sen. McCain is still marred by the McCain-Feingold political speech elimination legislation. Until he, himself, proposes the elimination of this... [MORE]	Karl Baumgarten	Jan 23, 2007 10:54
Were these Democrats "Blue Dogs"? It'd be nice to know where they stand, and if they're really as conservative as... [MORE]	Suree	Jan 23, 2007 10:35
I am glad they got it right. It amazes but does not suprise me that someone would try to include... [MORE]	Bert	Jan 23, 2007 09:09
From reports I hear, free speech and protection for the First Amendment are still needed. I hear reports about a... [MORE]	Charles Cooke	Jan 23, 2007 08:24
It doesn't matter what McCain does now. It's quite obvious that he is unacceptable as a presidential candidate for the... [MORE]	Stan Stoneking	Jan 23, 2007 18:36

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