Doolittle Gives Consumers Choice to Opt Out of Political Calls Introduces Bill to expand Do-Not-Call List

Doolittle Gives Consumers Choice to Opt Out of Political Calls Introduces Bill to expand Do-Not-Call List

House Republican Conference Secretary John T. Doolittle (R-Roseville) has introduced legislation that allows citizens to apply the National Do-Not-Call Registry to politically-oriented calls. Doolittle's bill (HR 5325) creates a new and separate category in the National Do-Not-Call Registry that would enable a person to choose whether he wants to opt out of political calls in addition to the business-related calls already covered.

Since Congress established the National Do-Not-Call Registry in 2003, the number of intrusive and unsolicited calls has dropped significantly. However, unsolicited calls from political organizations were exempted by Congress and are not currently defined as 'telemarketing'. The Federal Communications Commission has reported that political calls result in the highest number of complaints.

"Many of my constituents are fed up with how frequent and intrusive these political calls have become," Doolittle said. "I agree with them and want to empower people to decide for themselves whether they want to continue to have their lives interrupted in this manner."

Doolittle's legislation treats all political calls the same regardless of whether they originate from Members of Congress, candidates running for local office, or 527 political organizations like MoveOn.org.

"Congress never should have exempted political calls in the first place. My bill closes this loophole and gives consumers the choice they should have had all along," Doolittle concluded.

In 2003, Congress passed the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act which established the National Do-Not-Call Registry.

http://www.house.gov/doolittle/press/press06/pr6-28-06.html