There goes our rights- again...

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JaySekulow/2007/01/12/speaker_pelosi_to_monitor_your_church

check out the above link... to highlight a paragraph from the article to explain that the bill would:
impose registration and reporting requirements on churches and other nonprofit organizations. This is because the definition of “lobbyist” and “lobbying firms” includes specifically grassroots-organizing efforts. Under this broad-based regulatory scheme that Nancy Pelosi is advocating, many churches, especially larger churches with TV and radio ministries, would be subject to registration as a lobbying organization. Failure to comply with these lobbying requirements could result in fines and even criminal sanctions. Churches and their pastors who address the social issues of the day and encourage members and non-members alike to mobilize for action, including communications with Congress, would be required to make certain initial and quarterly disclosures to the United States Congress about their activities.

What a way to herald the new year with our congress- by the people and for the people right?

Luckily there is an amendment underway: (from http://www.citizenlink.org/CLtopstories/A000003607.cfm)

Sen. Robert Bennett, R-Utah, introduced an amendment to strike the provision according to his communications director, Emily Christensen.
An aide to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he is a co-sponsor of the amendment. That’s significant because not only is McConnell now minority leader in the Senate, but he’s also one of the Republican co-sponsors of S. 1.

SO- write your congressmen and women- perhaps even something like this:

Subject: Support the Bennett Amendment to Strike a Section of S. 1 That Would Limit Free Speech
I understand that an amendment has been introduced to remove an extremely troubling provision in S. 1, a bill you and your colleagues are now debating. I can't emphasize to you enough my hope that you will support this amendment -- and support my right to free speech. As I understand it, the provision in question -- Section 220 -- would place severe restrictions on my right to hear from groups I trust about what is going on in Congress. Because these groups be subject to fines of $100,000 for not complying with the miles of red tape the bill mandates, I am greatly concerned they will simply stop providing me with information I need to know about legislation that affects me. I applaud your efforts to clean up the unethical activity of some lobbyists on Capitol Hill -- but those are not the kinds of lobbyists being targeted by Section 220. People like me are the ones being targeted. So, please vote for the Bennett amendment to strip the unfair grassroots-lobbying provisions in S.1. Anything less would be allowing a muzzle to be placed on the very men and women who put you in office.