Todd Tiahrt: “I stand in support of the Istook-McIntosh- Ehrlich grant reform amendment. This amendment in the Labor-HHS- Education…”

“I stand in support of the Istook-McIntosh- Ehrlich grant reform amendment. This amendment in the Labor-HHS- Education appropriations bill would put a stop to the Federal Government subsidizing political advocacy groups. We want to stop the welfare for lobbyists. These are the groups that feed at the Government trough, complaining that if we take away their funds, we take away their first amendment rights. They call this the ``nonprofit gag order.'' They say, ``Without our advocacy voice, nonprofits will no longer be able to share their insights with policymakers.'' I tell my colleagues, there are plenty of advocacy groups and nonprofit educational research institutes who share insights without using taxpayers' dollars and without using your money. Besides that, constituents are free to visit or can come and call on me, or any of my fellow Congressmen, and share their thoughts; they just cannot send the phone bill or the airline bill to us and our neighbors. Madam Speaker, that is exactly what happens when we have welfare for lobbyists. I encourage my colleagues to pass the Istook-McIntosh- Ehrlich Federal grant reform amendment. It is the right thing to do.”