Petri Introduces Campaign Polling Reform Bill

Petri Introduces Campaign Polling Reform Bill

Sixth District Congressman Tom Petri (R-Fond du Lac) introduced legislation Thursday to regulate campaign "smear polls" - a campaign tactic designed to spread slanderous charges.

Petri explained that legitimate polls are designed to gather information helping candidates to focus their campaigns and refine their messages. Smear polls, on the other hand, are intended to spread charges damaging the reputation of one's opponent without public debate or discussion.

"During a smear poll, a caller claiming to be taking a poll spreads negative, and generally false, information about a political opponent. When the person being 'polled' is asked if his or her support for candidate 'X' would continue if they learned that the candidate had never paid any taxes, had embezzled from his employer, liked to drown puppies or some other charge, it makes little difference if the allegation is true because the charge has been planted. The poller can say he was asking a question rather than making an allegation, but the effect is the same," Petri said.

Because candidates should take responsibility for their campaigns, Petri said that his bill would require all polls conducted for federal candidates which contact more than 1,200 homes to identify the poll's sponsor. For polls which will not be made public, poll sponsors would be required to file with the Federal Election Commission the cost of the poll, a count of households contacted, and a transcript of the poll's questions.

Petri's bill has six original cosponsors from both political parties: Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI), Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT), Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE).

http://www.house.gov/petri/press/pushpoll2007.htm