They are going after Bloggers, Part II

I sent a letter to Michigan lawmaker Bruce Patterson

I just got a reply from Senator Bruce Patterson.
Here is his reply.....
Thank you for your email regarding SB 1323. It has certainly sparked media interest and their one-sided haranguing. Have you actually READ the Bill that was introduced? Or, did you rely on a posting by a dim-witted toady who never read the Bill? Once you read the Bill, feel free to write again and we’ll engage in a constructive conversation. Thank you. Benevolus Sen. Bruce Patterson’s office

Well I read the bill........
and I responded to him.
OH YEAH,THAT IS MUCH BETTER ! ! ! Not only do "reporters get licensed, they get to pay $10 for the privilege. And we get a new government bureaucracy too.
Every blogger can be a reporter, but we will know the curriculum vitae of the blogger.Woooohoooo. So we can vet bloggers.
First you need a "voluntary" license to call yourself a "MICHIGAN REGISTERED REPORTER". And you must be of "good character". As determined by who? You will create a database that will cause commentary to be judged by the resume of the writer, rather than the content of the writing.
That is until the next round of legislation.

The next round will say you MUST be a "MICHIGAN REGISTERED REPORTER" in order to blog in Michigan.

The next round after that will say you must be from specific universities to even be considered a "MICHIGAN REGISTERED REPORTER"

"Oh we are just doing it to maintain the quality of journalism" will be the quote.

Ben Franklin went to school for 2 years. Sorry, not qualified.

Thomas Paine attended school for 5 years. He was a pirate for a time. Sorry, Not qualified
Rush attended 1 year of college. According to his mother, "he flunked everything". Sorry Not Qualified

I got a quick reply from Michigan Lawmaker

It doesn't say a darn thing,
but it was quick

Thank you for e-writing to the office of State Senator Bruce Patterson. Due to the economic challenges being confronted by every sector of our economy, Sen. Patterson has chosen to automate various functions of his Lansing office in order to save taxpayer dollars. This decision has resulted in Sen. Patterson being able to return $40,000 or 70% of his allocated office account for the last Fiscal Year. But it also means he has fewer staff personnel than authorized.

As a consequence of this decision, certain requests from constituents may take longer to fulfill. With a smaller staff, and due to the Committee assignments of the Senator, e-mails are triaged and then delegated based on pre-determined factors. For instance, e-mails are answered if they come from within the sixteen municipalities of the Seventh Senate District. Moreover, individualized e-mails take priority over form mail.

Again, we hope you understand the Senator's desire to be responsive all the while being fiscally sensitive to the demands on taxpayers and their respective financial circumstances.

You may want to check out the e-office of Sen. Bruce Patterson. There you can find interesting items and other ways to provide input. Below you will find the link.

http://senate.michigan.gov/gop/senator/patterson

In order to assist you more quickly, please be sure to provide your home mailing address and phone number since your inquiry may necessitate a follow-up call for additional information.

Again, thank you for contacting us. Please let us know if we can ever be of additional assistance in the future.

Sincerely,

Bob Mauseth
Sen. Bruce Patterson's office

They are going after Bloggers.

A Michigan lawmaker wants to license reporters to ensure they’re credible and vet them for “good moral character.”according to Fox News
Senator Bruce Patterson(This idiot is a Republican too. If you want to contact him, click here) is introducing legislation that will regulate reporters much like the state does with hairdressers, auto mechanics and plumbers. Patterson, who also practices constitutional law, says that the general public is being overwhelmed by an increasing number of media outlets--traditional, online and citizen generated--and an even greater amount misinformation.

It is not just Michigan. The Federal Trade Commission wants Federal Control.

Mark Tapscott, over at the Washington Examiner says.....

* Journalists must understand that there is no way the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of the press will survive if the federal government regulates the news industry as envisioned by the FTC. Those who accept at face value protests to the contrary or the professions of pure intentions by advocates of government takeover of the news business are, at best, incredibly naive.

* Journalists who remain silent or apathetic about what is being prepared by the FTC for their profession become unintentional accessories in the strangulation of independent journalism.

* Journalists who support or assist, for any reason, the FTC process are accomplices in the strangulation of independent journalism.

I sent a quick email to this State Senator...

I don't know if you read the Constitution recently.
The 1st amendment says....
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That applies to Michigan Senate too.
All it will do is put the licensing of the press into hands of politicians and bureaucrats and we can say good-bye to the First Amendment. It will close down blogs, alternative media, and talk radio. It will close down freedom.
If journalists were licensed in the 18th century, we would not have had Thomas Paine, or the Federalist Papers.