Oregon may restrict political robo-calls
Oregon's Legislature is moving ahead with a bill that would perhaps mean doom for those infernal automated political calls in that state:
And since the GOP figured out how to play dirty pool with them by making calls in the wee hours of the morning and leaving the impression that Democrats were behind the calls, the best thing to do is get rid of them altogether.
I hope Oregon passes this into law, so I can pester Washington lawmakers next session to do the same thing. There's just no justification for the blasted things. Obviously, legitimate uses of automated calling by schools, workplaces and public safety agencies can still be allowed.
A bill restricting automated political "robo-calls" finally got out of the House rules committee Wednesday, a week after sponsors threatened to go around legislative leaders to bring the popular idea to the floor.I'd imagine that come election season, a huge majority of citizens would sign up. It's not a "freedom of speech" issue to spam people with computerized recordings, it's harassment.
Telephone users who have signed up for the do-not-call list -- which already protects consumers from commercial solicitations -- also would be free from political automated calls under Senate Bill 863.
And since the GOP figured out how to play dirty pool with them by making calls in the wee hours of the morning and leaving the impression that Democrats were behind the calls, the best thing to do is get rid of them altogether.
I hope Oregon passes this into law, so I can pester Washington lawmakers next session to do the same thing. There's just no justification for the blasted things. Obviously, legitimate uses of automated calling by schools, workplaces and public safety agencies can still be allowed.
