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Senate passes lobbying bill without restricting free speech...

WASHINGTON (BP)--By a vote of 55-43, the Senate approved an amendment Jan. 18, 2007 that struck the controversial

section of an ethics reform bill that would have threatened churches and pro-family groups with fines if they failed

to register their actions with the government when informing people on moral issues.

"This legislation says that grassroots lobbying is defined as members of the general public communicating with their congressmen or

encouraging others to do the same," Sen. Robert Bennett, R.-Utah, said of the original bill while promoting the amendment on the Senate

floor. "I thought that's what we were all supposed to do. I was taught in civics class in high school that everyone had the right to do that

without being forced to register and report all of their connections if somebody pays for it. "Sekulow explained in a post on the ACLJ

website that the House could take up such legislation as early as the week of Jan. 22, and indications are that Pelosi will insert the

grassroots lobbying legislation provision into the House's bill on lobbying reform.

"Once passed, it will require a conference committee between the House and the Senate," Sekulow wrote. "We are not out of the woods

yet on this important matter. Momentum continues to build, and we need to now turn our efforts to the United States House of

Representatives."

The USA Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121.

Source/Story... http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=24801 www.bpnews.net

Updates from: http://www.hslda.org/Legislation/National/2007/S1/default.asp