From the January 2007 Idaho Observer:

First order of business for "most ethical" Congress: Silence activists

After the 2006 election results were tallied and the Democrats had claimed majorities in both the House and Senate, the new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that, unlike the Republican-dominated 109th which has been labeled "the most unethical Congress ever," the Democrat-dominated 110th will be "the most ethical Congress ever."

Among the list of reforms Pelosi’s Democrat majority are planning is to change the way lobbyists are able to influence Capitol Hill politicians.

True to their word, the Democrats are pushing for passage of S.1—Lobby reform. The bulk of the bill is ostensibly intended to separate the hips of registered lobbyists from the hips of elected officials. However, Section 220 would have created a new classification of "lobbyist" to be regulated—grassroots activists.

Under Sec. 220, "The term ‘grassroots lobbying’ means the voluntary efforts of members of the general public to communicate their own views on an issue to federal officials or to encourage other members of the general public to do the same."

Ironically, Section 220, which was removed amid intense public pressure, generated the type of response its passage could have been used to silence.

It seems that the millions of letters, phone calls, FAXes and emails members of Congress receive each day from their concerned constituents are annoying them. Since members of Congress cannot simply ignore our communications, or regulate them, lest the people realize whose interests they truly represent, the most ethical Congress (ever) has indicated its intent to regulate us instead.

Several extremely controversial issues will likely be decided over the next two years—amnesty for illegal Mexican aliens, stricter gun control, expanding the war and reinstating the draft, to name a few. The ethicists in Congress have undoubtedly determined that their treachery will be easier to accomplish once grassroots opposition is silenced.

Variations of Section 220 will likely be introduced as many times as it takes until individual Americans, who insist upon voicing their opinions to members of Congress, are subject to regulation. The power to regulate comes with it the power to destroy.