Rep. Barney Frank on Capuano’s Internet Rules

Ultraguy, who blogs at New Wineskins, was as unhappy as I was about the proposed new rules for internet usage by ongressman, so he wrote a letter to his, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and received this response from Congressman Frank, one of the House’s more liberal members:

Dear Mr. [ultraguy],

I had not been aware of this issue of linkages to Member’s websites and I am not supportive of restrictions here. I must say that I do not think that restricting what Members can link to in their websites is or will lead to “tyranny,” but I have generally been for no restrictions on speech and that is the perspective from which I start. There is a need to keep Members of Congress from subsidizing blatantly political activity with public funds, but I do not think that there needs to be this degree of restriction and I will be talking to my colleagues on the subject in the next couple of weeks. In fact, I wish people who are opposed to restrictions in one area had a consistent view in opposing restrictions on freedom of expression everywhere. That has generally been my position and I will maintain it here as well.

BARNEY FRANK

Ultraguy was not entirely satisfied with this stance but considering that Frank and Capuano come from the same state delegation I’m pleased to see Rep. Frank inclined to use his seniority to lobby against implementing such regulations, sponsored as they are by a close colleague. My own Congressman has yet to even respond to my inquiry. Sad.

Hat tip of the day goes to Ultraguy and to Representative Barney Frank!