This just in...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) today wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), urging her to join him in opposing a new rule proposed by the Democratic leadership of the House Administration Committee that would require outside websites such as YouTube to comply with House regulations before Members of Congress could post videos on them. Under the proposal, the House Administration Committee would develop a list of “approved” websites, and Members of Congress would be restricted to only publishing content using these sites. Calling it “new government censorship of the Internet,” Boehner asked Speaker Pelosi to join him in opposing the proposed rule.
“The Internet is a powerful tool for promoting openness and transparency in government,” Boehner wrote. “It has given individual Americans an unprecedented window into the daily actions and policy debates of their Congress. The result has increasingly been a better informed electorate – better equipped with real-time information about what is happening in their government, and more empowered to hold their leaders accountable.”
Highlighting the Democratic-controlled House Administration Committee’s attempts to effectively shut down the free flow of information on the Internet between Members of Congress and the American people, Boehner assailed the proposed rule.
“If this proposed rule were to be implemented, Americans who currently use free websites such as YouTube to obtain uncensored daily information on congressional policy debates would suddenly be forced to visit websites ‘approved’ by the House Administration Committee in order to continue getting such information,” explained Boehner. “This would amount to new government censorship of the Internet, by a panel of federal officials that is neither neutral nor independent.”
Urging Speaker Pelosi to join him in opposing the Democratic-controlled House Administration Committee’s planned actions, Boehner concluded, “Millions of Americans get information about what is happening in their government through the Internet and free websites like YouTube. I am writing to seek your assurance that the Democratic majority does not intend to deprive them of this right, and to request that you join me in opposing the proposed new rules.”
