Posted by
David J. Hall on Saturday, January 20, 2007 3:01:04 PM
Thank You to everyone around the country who has heard the clarion call [sounded out by Dr. James Dobson, Jay Sekulow, and many other Christian community leaders] to contact their Senators in regard to Senate Bill S.1 Section 220 which would severely limit the free speech of the church and other non-profit grassroots organizations.
Here is a copy of a note that Jay Sekulow has posted on the ACLJ website as of yesterday (Jan. 19):
I am happy to report that last night the Senate voted 55-43 and adopted the Bennett Amendment, which removed the grassroots lobbying provisions, to the Lobbying Transparency and Accountability Act. As you will recall, Harry Reid, the majority leader in the Senate, had proposed legislation which would require churches, public interest organizations and others to register as grassroots lobbyists. As I stated, this would have been one of the most significant restrictions placed on the freedom of political expression in our Nation’s history. The outcry against this measure has been nothing short of amazing. We heard from over 20,000 citizens in just 48 hours, expressing outrage over this attempt to muzzle our voices...
While I am very pleased with our victory at the United States Senate, we cannot afford to drop our guard for even one moment. The House will take up this legislation as early as next week. Indications are that Nancy Pelosi, the new Speaker of the House, will insert the grassroots lobbying legislation provision in the House of Representatives’ Bill on Lobbying Reform. Once passed, it will require a conference committee between the House and the Senate. We are not out of the woods yet on this important matter. Momentum continues to build, and we need to now turn our efforts to the United States House of Representatives.
(Emphasis added )
There are primarily 3 battles we must win in this legislative war: (1) In the Senate, (2) in the House, and then (3) in a Conference Committee (if the passed House and Senate Bills do not match exactly, then they get together and work out their differences in a committee setting. It is at this 3rd stage that things can happen quickly in a wrong direction!)
Therefore, we must remain diligent in our practical approach, and in our intercessory prayer approach until this legislation is completed and no longer available for changes.
However, even when we do win (faith speaking here!) there is no guarantee that there will not be a clandestine attempt to include the text of Section 220 in some other piece of massive legislation that could keep it unnoticeable until it is too late for a grassroots response.
Let's keep up the good fight and remain diligent!