Reply #37: Internet election rules could be blocked [View All]

Internet election rules could be blocked

The Internet would be immune from campaign finance laws that could restrict freewheeling political discourse, according to a new proposal in Congress.

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., has introduced legislation that would effectively overturn a federal judge's decision from last year that brought Internet politicking under the ambit of a controversial campaign finance law.

The Federal Election Commission is expected to vote on the topic Thursday.

"Regulation of the Internet at this time would blunt its tremendous potential, discourage broad political involvement in our nation and diminish our representative democracy," Reid said in an e-mail message. "We should avoid silencing this new and important form of political speech."

Bradley Smith, a Republican FEC commissioner, recently alarmed bloggers and political activists by warning that online activities such as creating hyperlinks or forwarding campaign press releases could be regulated in the near future. "If someone else doesn't take action, for instance in Congress, we're running a real possibility of serious Internet regulation," Smith said in an interview with CNET News.com.

Reid's proposal is straightforward; it amends existing law to say the Internet is not included in the definition of what is regulated by the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, better known as the McCain-Feingold Act.