Posted on 09/09/2009 5:28:00 AM PDT by Loud Mime
When contributors hand over money to a trade group that’s lobbying on a bill before Congress, the public has a right to know who’s putting up that cash, a federal appeals panel has ruled.
In an opinion issued Tuesday, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld a relatively recent law requiring public donor lists.
The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) had challenged the disclosure provision in the 2007 ethics overhaul law (PL 110-81), arguing that the First Amendment’s guarantee of the right to petition Congress means that financial backers of lobbying efforts should be allowed to remain anonymous.
The judges said that a Supreme Court decision more than 50 years ago, United States vs. Harriss, found that “who is being hired, who is putting up the money, and how much” to influence legislation are “a vital national interest.”
“Because nothing has transpired in the last half-century to suggest that the national interest in public disclosure of lobbying information is any less vital than it was when the Supreme Court first considered the issue, we reject that challenge,” said the 48-page appellate opinion.
The goal of the current law’s provision was to learn more about who was funding lobbying campaigns that were sometimes hidden behind bland names of advocacy groups. Failing to comply with the disclosure law could result in a $200,000 fine and as many as five years in prison. While the court case was pending, NAM made a filing under the law that named 65 of its member contributors. NAM spokesman Hank Cox said the group was disappointed with the decision and hasn’t decided whether to appeal further.
He said the group still feels that the law intimidates people from participating in their First Amendment right to petition government. “We think it’s a problem,” Cox said.
When Prop.8 was at issue in California, the protestors were harrassing the business owners at their homes.
Perhaps it would be fair to get Planned Parenthood to release the names of those persons who got abortions?
IF this were to be enforced evenly (fat chance!), this would hurt the liberals more than conservatives.
I would like to see full disclosure of the lobbyists donations, NOT the individuals involved. That way we could find out who owns each politician. We can tell by the group which way the wind blows politically. The Prop 8 picketing of individuals who supported it was disgusting.
This looks like good news to me.
I would like to know when it is actually Soros or SEIU that is paying for something even if they create a front group.
If “The People” vote for Congressmen and Senators to represent US, why do we allow lobbyists to influence OUR representatives?
Maybe. Based on what happened in California, today’s Communist-crats are in high gear to gain power and dispose of those who stand in their way. The reason for this lawsuit was obvious: they want to target individuals; and they have the media on their side.
I agree. What special interest groups are buying the politicians favor? How much money is being passed around, and who really ends up with it?
How do politicians go to Washington as paupers but retire as multimillionaires? Where are they getting their newly found millions? Why are they now multimillionaires? Who have they sold their souls to? Who have they sold our souls to?
Gouverneur Morris’ statement of “We the People” did not mean we were a Democracy of majority rule. Throughout the writings of the Founders they did not want a Democracy.
The lobbyists represent voters and taxpayers and the members of congress know it. Lobbying is legal AND ethical. If a law affects a business sector, they should be allowed to use their voice as a sector.
If it isn’t being enforced equally, then it becomes your job to start making waves. There are numerous legal groups out there who will help with the paperwork. It’s time for a food fight.
I have no problem of them publishing my name to trade organizarions I contribute to.
Agreed. One of the best “campaign finance reforms” is full disclosure.
“The Prop 8 picketing of individuals who supported it was disgusting.”
Did it’s little feeling get hurt, too damn bad!
There is a term sacrificial pawn. Perhaps the NAM gave a piece to gain the names of all the donors behind all the thousands of Rat groups. For instance, perhaps now we’ll learn where the money for Apollo comes from
Most people have no idea we're a Representative Republic. We're not a Democracy.
Even the Washington politicians refer to the U.S. as a Democracy. I don't know whether they're admitting we're now a socialist society (like it or not) or whether they're just honestly ignorant themselves.
There are going to be unintended consequences.
Frankly, with the lists of names of the contributors to any particular issues campaign it would probably be possible to mount an effective campaign of intimidation. That's because the number of contributors are only a small part of the number of supporters of the issue, yet they are critical to the public even knowing about the issue.
I say "Yeah, go to it guys, let's tell the Court 'GIVE US MORE AND HERE ARE THEIR NAMES'".
That's the cheap way to do it ~ I think the lawyers here would suggest that the only cost is the one to file the request with the court (to get the counterpart order) and the time of the lawyer to do the job.
Transparency in government and full disclosure of this kind of information should be a good thing.
If every lobbying group had to disclose this information tomorrow, I bet a huge portion of them would shut down rather than comply. One of the more interesting aspects of this is that we'll likely find out about enormous financial support for these industry organizations from foreign interests.
I will side with the US Businesses on this matter.
I don’t trust “U.S. businesses” any more than I trust the U.S. government on this matter.
It's none of your business when I communicate with my representatives in Congress ~ NO BUSINESS OF YOURS AT ALL.
Capice?
“National Association of Outsourcers”.
Good.
Name names.
Oh Really?
When do we get to see Barry O's list?
It's kind of pathetic to have lobbying groups pushing for all kinds of blatantly unconstitutional Federal laws . . . then citing the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as an argument against disclosing the identities of their financial supporters.
If you are financing their campaigns, then I want to know everything there is to know about you, chief.
Oh? So you are out of the closet.
Hope you found something fabulous to wear.
Maybe we’re on completely different pages when it comes to this issue. It seems to me — based on my understanding of this issue — that what you are looking for is the ability to bribe members of Congress while hiding behind the Fourth Amendment to shield your efforts from the public.
No, you’re asking for the right to find out when I contact my representatives in Congress. Bribery is against the law and it’s irresposible in the extreme to attempt to restrain it it by simply dismissing 1st, 4th and 5th amendment rights!
what does that mean?
Not the people who had them, the people who paid for them. If they are one and the same, then we would only know that they paid for one.
-PJ
What’s Apollo?
(aside from the retired space program...)
" Here"is their web site
If you want to learn about them, they are the center of a great conspiratorial Rat web. Their directors are all major Rats and leaders in some major subgroup. Google will clue in detail
Apollo Alliance is our enemy.
Did you intend to insult originalbuckeye?
Why is it when they mention court rulings that we always have to know how many pages: “said the 48-page appellate opinion”? I would also like to know if it is double spaced, what font size they are using, and the size of the margins. Oh, and is it “legal” paper or regular 8.5x11?
“Did you intend to insult originalbuckeye?”
Of course!
I thought you were just insulting another person, in this instance a lady. One whose posts I happen to like.
The only reason you do this to many others, as you have myself, is you stopped growing as a teenager and are now, from what I gather in your 60’s regressing.
It’s okay, no need to lash out others, you just need medical supervision and opiates. Then again maybe you wet your pants everyday.
You have placed yourself on the my list and couple of other posters with your childish remarks and so when you pull this instead of offering intelligent and personal insight, we have decided to make you a project.
You are lacking so much confidence, that you are desperately seeking a way to elevate yourself at other expense and it’s just no longer acceptable behavior.
So my comment to you was “It’s nice to see you come out of the closet. I hope you found something fabulous to wear”.
Being in your 60’s I presume you are good with inuendo as you are with adolescent invective.
Now on to the crux of the problem:
It looked like you were mocking originalbuckeye on an issue that concerns all of us and our current rights to privacy.
Jerry Brown changed the wording and intent of Prop 8 to an issue of denying a right, which doesn’t exist and was not the intent of the bill.
The intent of the bill was to protect the right and definition of marriage.
When the cloak of privacy is removed you have gay militants, who have not only made a choice of behavior, sexually, but a choice of parading themselves and flaunting their back alley and bedroom proclivities for all to see.
We are not looking to normalize their behavior and we do not want them trying to force by law, intimidation or culture of shame their lifestyles. They staked out their lifestyles and we don’t need to know about them.
That doesn’t and nothing ever will give them imprimatur to change, by fiat, world culture and then necessarily all writing in human history and religious ethos.
We should be free to donate to causes without fear of reprisal, intimidation or harm. They should not pick and choose who to single out as their targets because they view them as easy prey that no one will care about, such as the Mormons.
Still think it is funny if someone’s feelings get hurt over this or any other issue? Well, the gay mafia showed up at people’s homes and businesses to intimidate them.
Real property was destroyed that someone worked hard for and may not be able to replace.
That’s funny to you?
I don’t give a rats ass what you or anyone else thinks of me. in fact if half the people don’t hate me I take a good look at myself to see what i’m doing wrong!
Anyone that does anything on or because of feelings is in my estimation sub human.
As far as queers I would just as soon kill them as look at them.
As far as privacy, go stuff it!
So would kill another human? Why? What have they done to you?
Is your ass sore? Emotional Scars? What? What? What?
Honestly, why are always so angry when you post and make your posts insulting and personal. If people met you in person are actually someone they would like or do you fancy yourself an over the hill, unaccomplished, Male Rosie Odonell?
sorry, I meant to ask: So you really kill another human?
I dont think dolereed even understands those posts he replies to. Peter Schiff used Sarcasm to make fun of democrats, and dolereed called me a socialist when I posted it. He probably had no idea what this thread was about anymore than that one.
A bit of advice dolereed, if you are mentally challenged (which may not be your fault) and you are on the public dole, just be polite. If you cant be thoughtful, stay away from the reply button,
Go to hell you POS!
Every contributor should be public. I donate to 3 trade associations for lobbying and could care less whether my name is listed!
On the Dole Reed:
You are weak and prone to crying at chick flicks.
Incoming!
The last movie I attended was 65 years ago and they didn’t make those things then!
Caltrate, similac or a good enema could be helpfull.
Go to hell asshole!
didn’t I tell you about your attitude and language?
Now I have to waste valuable time giving you the attention you crave.
I have to take of something but I will be back.
Don’t bother jerk, it’s a waste of time since I don’t have feelings!
Or brain cells. But you can cash those government checks and call us taxpaying workers moochers. You are good at that.
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