Congress Comes to YouTube (again)…But it Almost Didn’t HappenPosted by Nick on January 12th, 2009
Today marks the launch of a new collaborative effort between The U.S. Congress and YouTube.com. The House Hub and Senate Hub have been developed to make it easier for visitors to find their elected officials and their YouTube channels. YouTube and other popular technologies continue to empower American citizens with real-time information about the policy debates and actions being undertaken by Congress. As we see more and more members from both sides of the aisle embrace web video and social media, it’s easy to forget that only a few months ago Democrats on the House Administration Committee were proposing rules that would have brought this free flow of information to a screeching halt. The proposed rules, including an “approved list” of websites that could be used by members of Congress, would have amounted to new government censorship of the Internet by a panel of federal officials that is neither neutral or independent. Using the very tools Democrats proposed to restrict, citizens spoke out in the thousands. Thankfully, House Republicans, led by Reps. Vern Ehlers (R-MI), Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), and Tom Price (R-GA), and supported strongly by Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) and Leader Boehner, expressed their strong opposition to this attack on Internet freedom and proposed an alternative solution that would allow Members of Congress to continue posting content at sites of their choosing. House Republicans’ recommendations were eventually adopted by the Committee on House Administration. House Republicans will continue fight to increase transparency and openness in government using technology and any other means at our disposal. If you have any thoughts on how we can better achieve these goals, let us know in the comments or as a video response to Leader Boehner’s welcome video below. New Government Censorship? We’re Not LaughingPosted by Nick on July 10th, 2008
An article in today’s edition of Congress Daily AM (Capuano: Boehner’s Charges On Rule `Laughably Inaccurate’), looks at Rep. Michael Capuano’s (D-MA) lengthy three-page statement explaining his proposed new restrictions on communications technology within Congress. House Republicans, respected transparency advocates, technology experts, and concerned citizens around the nation have carefully reviewed his proposal and they’re not laughing. In his statement, Rep. Capuano explains that his proposed rule, which includes creating a list of “approved” technologies
Interesting point. Wouldn’t it also then stand to reason that the common practice of Members of Congress submitting op-eds to local and national publications that are published online aside paid advertisements would also be banned? Op-eds such as these in the Boston Globe or RollCall (screencaps below)? Coincidently the Rollcall article is also linked to on Rep. Capuano’s official website.
The web is not “a necessary evil…like cellphones” as Rep. Capuano recently stated in the Washington Post. The Internet is a powerful tool. House Republicans understand that embracing technology is essential in improving communicating with their constituents and increasing transparency in government, and they will continue fighting to ensure this new form of government censorship is not enacted. A Qik Alternative To House Democrats’ Restrictive New RulesPosted by Nick on July 10th, 2008
In the video below Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) discuss an alternative to House Democrats’ proposed rules that would restrict the use of new technology by Members of Congress. Rep. Culberson was able to publish this video live via his mobile phone using Qik, one of the cutting-edge tools that House Democrats are threatening to ban. House Republicans understand that technologies such as Qik, Twitter, and YouTube can help members better communicate with their constituents and increase transparency in government. This is why Leader Boehner has asked Speaker Pelosi to join Republicans in opposing this new government censorship of the Internet. If you’re currently using Twitter, make sure to follow @GOPLeader and @johnculberson for regular updates on their efforts to keep the Internet free. Keeping the Internet FreePosted by Nick on July 9th, 2008
Following yesterday’s Internet Freedom Alert we’ve received an overwhelmingly supportive reaction online, in print, and from citizens across the country. People are rightly alarmed that House Democrats are considering the adoption of new rules that would tightly restrict members’ ability to use technology in communicating with their constituents. Leader Boehner and Republicans’ views on the matter are simple: Congress should be leading the way by encouraging elected officials to utilize whichever tools they believe will best assist them in bringing free and unfiltered information to their constituents about the actions being taken by their government. Congress should not be forcing them to use only technology that has been “approved” by a panel of federal officials that is neither neutral nor independent. Here are a few excerpts from the coverage this issue has received so far: Member Web Use Reconsidered (The Sunlight Foundation)
Why won’t House Democrats let Congressmen use technology? (The Next Right)
Congressional Democrats Aim to Censor Twitter and Qik (Mashable.com)
Why do Congressional Democrats fear free speech? (Hot Air)
Committee on House Administration Threatens Constituent Access to Members of Congress (TechRepublican)
Boehner Seeks To Stir Net Roots About Proposed Rule (Congress Daily AM) Video Postings Create a Ruckus (RollCall) |
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