The "Waxman Law Threatens Citizen Lobbying " Good or Bad?

Question

Waxman's ?1984' Law Would Impede Citizen Lobbying
Dave Eberhart, NewsMax
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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Opponents of a new executive branch lobbying reform bill working its way through the U.S. House of Representatives warn that it will impede an ordinary citizen's absolute right to communicate with government officials.
Conservatives groups have expressed outrage over the proposed law ? one that targets not just lobbyists but organizations trying to effect public policy.

When Rep. Henry A. Waxman, chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House, introduced H.R. 984, the Executive Branch Reform Act, last month, he promised it represented "good government" reform
Critics, however, think it should be renumbered "H.R. 1984" because of the looming specter of an Orwellian "Big Brother."
As advertised, the legislation, among a host of other provisions, stops the practice of

Creates a federal ban to prevent lobbyists who enter government from handing out favors to their former clients. In addition, government officials will be prohibited from negotiating future employment with private interests who are affected by their official actions. Officials who leave government to become lobbyists would not be able to lobby their former colleagues for two years (current law has only a one-year ban).

Bars executives who worked for private contractors from awarding contracts to their former employers when they enter government. The bill also closes multiple loopholes in the law governing when government procurement officials can be hired by companies to whom they awarded contracts.

Eliminates the use of unregulated "pseudo-classifications" such as "sensitive but unclassified" or "for official use only." The legislation would require the development of regulations and standards governing the use of any information control designations by federal agencies.

Addresses the issue of government-sponsored covert propaganda by requiring the federal government to disclose its role in funding or disseminating messages to the American public.

Meanwhile, Shelton and his Traditional Values Coalition are wary of another bill ? this one dealing with reporting requirements regarding citizen communication with the legislative branch.

Language in the House Grassroots Lobby bill will make any person or group who alerts 500-plus people as to any issue to reporting four times a year on every single letter, phone call, e-mail, plus the cost, which they send out.

Says Shelton: "It is clear that Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi intends to include in the measure a provision like Sec 220 that violates the First Amendment rights of citizens to freely petition their government which we stripped from the Senate bill."


? NewsMax 2007. All rights reserved

Answer 1

Haven't actually seen anything about it. What law would that be?

Wow, thanks for the lead. That's FANTASTIC news! It's no wonder "opponents" call it orwellian, but from the looks of it that would do a bit to clean up some of the pork bellying. If anything, I don't think it goes far enough- but it'd do for a start. I've gotta go call my congressman now!

Rev. 3/28/07:
Okay so I printed out the proposed bill and took a look (I'll include a link to it at the bottom). It's really not at all extreme. The bill does three things:
1) Requires members of the executive branch to report and keep a record of all meetings that aren't protected from the FOIA for national security reasons.
2) Increases the cooling off period for job transfers from the executive branch to the private sector (and vice-versa) from one year to two. No government official may offer government contracts to a former employer for a period of two years unless the office of ethics determines that the circumstances are extenuating. This includes the Vice-President.
3) Mandates a cleanup of information labeling that some officials have been using to circumvent the Freedom of Information Act.

I guess my question is, who is this Shelton person, that's so afraid of the executive branch keeping accurate and honest records?

The ONLY impact on Citizen Lobbying is that the government official they speak with must write down that he had the meeting. It doesn't even apply to the congressmen! Take a look for yourself- it's a clearly written bill and only 12 pages long.

Answer 2

If it limits citizens and promotes big spec. interests it is outrageous and u should protest.

Answer 3

No offense but you are a JERK!!! Anyone who is willing to wright that much on one question should shoot them selves!!!!