micpi
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Re:House Democrat Wants to Control Churches - 2007/01/17 21:39
I can’t believe I am letting you get me into a political discussion with you.
Did you read the bill? It is clearly not aimed at churches. Read this section of the bill that the right wing wacko web site you quoted is referring to. If a church is reaching beyond this then they are lobbyists and should fall under the provisions of this bill. Notice the part about members.
The term `paid efforts to stimulate grassroots lobbying' means any paid attempt in support of lobbying contacts on behalf of a client to influence the general public or segments thereof to contact one or more covered legislative or executive branch officials (or Congress as a whole) to urge such officials (or Congress) to take specific action with respect to a matter described in section 3(8)(A), except that such term does not include any communications by an entity directed to its members, employees, officers, or shareholders.
They will be able to address members without any interference. If a church is spending $50,000 a quarter or more to address political issues with non-members they are lobbyist. Do they have the right to lobby? Of course they do. After what has gone on in our government for the last decade or more should we monitor these lobbying efforts? You bet we should. This article ignored the section of the bill that referred to members of an organization. The authors are trying to scare church members into believing that Democrats are trying to restrict what pastors can say to them. That is completely false. Whoever wrote this article is paranoid and/or bitter.
"I will not withdraw, even if Laura and Barney are the only ones supporting me." --George W. Bush |
Specter (1116)
