WASHINGTON (January 18, 2007) -- The U.S. Senate voted 55-43 to reject a proposal that would have, for the first time, required registration and reporting by persons and groups that spend money to stimulate citizens to contact their representatives in Congress regarding pending legislation.

The Senate adopted an amendment offered by pro-life Senator Robert Bennett (R-Utah) to strip the so-called "grassroots lobbying" provision (Section 220) from an omnibus ethics reform bill.  The Bennett Amendment was strongly supported by a broad spectrum of advocacy groups, including National Right to Life, the Family Research Council, the National Rifle Association, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

To see the Senate roll call on the Bennett Amendment (Amendment No. 20 to S. 1), click here.

Leaders of the new Democratic majority in the House of Representatives are expected to soon propose their own version of an omnibus "ethics" bill, which is also expected to contain language attacking so-called "grassroots lobbying."  Keep watching this page for further updates on this vital issue.  To sign up to receive occasional e-mail alerts regarding developments in Congress, click here.

To see NRLC's January 16 letter to the Senate in support of the Bennett Amendment, and other information on this issue, click here.

To see more documents about congressional attempts to restrict "grassroots lobbying," click here.
To return to the NRLC Homepage, click here.