Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 29, Ed. 1 Friday, November 17, 1995 Page: 3 of 56
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Foes say amendment seeks to muzzle liberal groups
Measure defeated Friday
is expected to re-surface
By John McCoy
STAFF REPORTER OF DALLAS VOICE
Amid the federal government shut-
down, Congress last Friday voted to
drop an amendment which would have
prevented non-profit organizations
which receive federal grants from lob-
bying Congress.
But the amendment's sponsor ex-
pects the measure to emerge again
before the end of the current congres-
sional session. AIDS advocates agreed
that the issue probably will resurface.
Dubbed the "Silence America
Amendment" by its critics, the provi-
sion, sponsored by Rep. Ernest Istook
(R-Okla.), was attached as a rider to the
Continuing Resolution, used to fund
the government while Congress works
to pass its 1996 budget.
The Istook amendment stated that
any organization which received more
than $125,000 in federal grants would
be prohibited from lobbying, which it
broadly defined as any oral or written
communication with members of the
executive and legislative branch out-
side of sworn testimony before congres-
sional committees.
In addition, 501 (c)4 corporations,
non-profits devoted to social welfare
issues, who lobby would not be eligible
to receive federal grants.
The ban would prevent organiza-
tions not only from attempting to influ-
ence legislation, but also from contact-
ing federal agencies with concerns on
how government programs were
administered.
Kristy Khachigan, press secretary to
Rep. Istook said that the amendment
was aimed at groups like the American
Association of Retired Persons, which
do an "egregious amount of lobbying."
Critics of the plan note that federal
laws already prevent non-profits from
using grant money for political purpos-
es.
Khachigan argued that the taxpayers
nonetheless subsidize the process.
Grant money covers these organiza-
tions' administrative costs, allowing
non-profits to raise private funds in
order to secure more grants, she said.
She noted that organizations which
spent less than $25,000 on lobbying
would be exempt from the ban.
Liberal critics point out that no simi-
lar restrictions apply to for-profit corpo-
rations which receive government sup-
port.
Speaking before the measure was
dropped, AIDS Action Council Deputy
Executive Director Christine Lubinski
blasted the amendment for the effect it
would have on efforts to secure funding
for people with AIDS.
"This legislation will mean that peo-
ple with AIDS will no longer be able to
effectively educate legislators and poli-
cy makers about their care and treat-
ment concerns," she said. "Must we
now sacrifice our first amendment right
to free speech in exchange for the
urgent need to deliver federally-funded
prevention and care services to people
in their communities living with HIV
disease?"
After passing the House and being
modified in the Senate, the Istook
amendment was stripped from the
Continuing Resolution before it was
sent to President Clinton on Monday.
He vetoed the measure, objecting to
two other riders, most notably a provi-
sion which would have raised Medicare
Part B premiums.
AIDS Action Council Legislative
Representative Gary Rose said he had
received no word from the White
House as to whether Clinton would
also veto legislation containing the
Istook amendment.
He said, however, that he expected
moderate Republicans in the Senate to
oppose the Istook language in future
bills. Khachigan said the Congressman
is looking at several bills to attach the
amendment to, including the budget
bill and the lobbying reform bill. V
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DALLAS VOICE
NOVEMBER 17, 1995
3
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Vercher, Dennis. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 29, Ed. 1 Friday, November 17, 1995, newspaper, November 17, 1995; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth616292/m1/3/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.