Washington D.C. – March 2, the Homeland Security and Governmental Reform Committee passed by a vote of 10-6 the Lieberman-Levin Amendment to regulate certain activities pertaining to so-called "grassroots lobbying." Family Research Council (FRC) President Tony Perkins released the following statement:
"Today the Senate committee voted to impose unconstitutional and unfair restraints on non-profit, grassroots activity. The Lieberman-Levin amendment grants Congress the authority to scrutinize and regulate the constitutionally protected efforts of groups to alert citizens regarding legislative developments in Congress.
"Reasoned attempts to address the concerns emerging from the Abramoff scandal should not be used as an excuse for incumbent officer-holders to encroach upon our most basic Constitutional liberties. However, the amendment approved by the committee today violates the constitutionally protected right of citizens to petition government, stifles debate, and shuts out the voice of average citizens.
"This amendment is a red herring, it take the focus off the corruption surrounding high paid lobbyists, and attempts to make non-profit citizen groups the whipping boy. The full Senate should protect the constitutional right of citizens to petition Congress by stripping this misguided amendment when the measure reaches the Senate floor."