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The American Civil Liberties Union called on Congress Tuesday to revisit a move by the House Chief Administrative Officer that requires visitors of Congressional Web sites to solve a “logic puzzle” in order to e-mail Members.
The CAO’s effort, designed to curtail mass e-mail from the “Write Your Representative” feature, began late last month. The logic test requires visitors to complete a simple puzzle before sending an e-mail message to a Member.
As of late last week, 60 Members had added the feature to their Web site. Many offices said it helps them respond to constituent e-mail more effectively.
But the ACLU compared the logic tests to voter literacy tests, arguing that it creates a barrier for citizens who want to contact their Congressional Representatives via e-mail.
“They don’t want you to contact them without taking a quiz,” said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. “We urge Congress to revisit this policy and take steps to ensure that all concerned citizens — regardless of ability to pass a ‘logic test’ — are able to be heard.”
Many grass-roots and lobbying groups also have criticized the feature.
— Elizabeth Brotherton
Potts: Congress Must Not Allow Lobbying Efforts to Block Pro-Consumer Financial Planning Bill
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Quietly hidden amid debates over which agency should house a consumer financial protection agency is a simple consumer financial protection proposal. It would safeguard Main Street residents from malpractice by people claiming to be financial planners. Read Full Article
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