[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 138 (Wednesday, September 28, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  1010
 
  ENCOURAGING MEMBERS TO LOOK AT THE LOBBYING DISCLOSURE ACT CAREFULLY

  (Mr. GINGRICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, I just want to caution my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle to look very, very carefully at the lobbying 
bill which is coming up. Our initial analysis indicates that those who 
lobby on behalf of religious organizations on issues such as abortion 
or pornography would have to file for grass roots activities. The small 
businesses which might want to come and talk to a Member of Congress 
could potentially be required to register officially, that efforts to 
communicate precisely the way the health bill was defeated would, in 
fact, become much more difficult and much more dangerous, and that a 
brand new President, with all of the police powers of the Government, 
might well be able to coerce freedom of speech, not in dealing with the 
Congress but in grass roots, lobbying, talking to grass roots voters.
  I urge all of my colleagues, look very carefully at what is a hidden 
effort here to cut off free speech and to cut off citizens being 
informed and citizens being active and religious groups being active.
  This is potentially a very antireligious activist, antismall 
business, antigrass roots voters bill.

                          ____________________