Joe Barton: “The First Amendment gives the American people the right to petition the Congress for redress of grievances and to…”

“The First Amendment gives the American people the right to petition the Congress for redress of grievances and to express freedom of speech. Several weeks ago, the chairman of the committee that I serve as a ranking member on, Energy and Commerce, Chairman Henry Waxman, sent a letter to several U.S. corporations for having the temerity to express their displeasure with the health care bill and to inform their employees and stockholders of the consequences of that piece of legislation. He has opened an investigation into those companies, and we have a hearing next week. Two days ago, Chairman Waxman sent a letter to the American Farm Bureau, opening an investigation into their activities expressing their displeasure with the EPA endangerment finding and the pending cap and trade legislation in the United States Senate. Mr. Speaker, I am very concerned when one of the premier committee chairmen of our great House of Representatives appears to be using his power to intimidate Americans from expressing their First Amendment rights to petition the Congress for redress of grievances. I think that's a sad state of affairs, and I think that is something that maybe should be investigated.”