One thing on the Democratic controlled Senate’s agenda is ethics and lobbying reform. That is a good thing. What is not a good thing is to limit the reform. This is what seems to be happening in the Lobby Reform Bill.

If the bill passes, lobbying groups of more than 500 supporters would be required to adhere to rigorous reporting requirements. These requirements would take a lot of time and money to accomplish. Now this doesn’t sound to bad does it? The problem is that it effects grassroots organizations and smaller organizations the most - the ones who can’t afford it and who would pay huge fines if the reporting is not done properly.

And the biggest catch - corporations, labor unions and foreign companies would be EXEMPT! That’s right! The lobbying firms that need the ethic reforms the most, won’t even have to comply.

Doesn’t this seem like a limit on free speech? Small organizations who want to make their voice heard to THEIR government may not be able to. Shame on you Congress!

Technorati Tags: Lobby Reform Bill, Democratic Congress, Ethics Reform