[NIFL-POVRACELIT:1209] Re: definition of lobbyingColleagues,

From: Albert Wat (ayw@georgetown.edu)
Date: Fri Aug 01 2003 - 09:00:36 EDT


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Subject: [NIFL-POVRACELIT:1209] Re: definition of lobbyingColleagues,
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Here's a resource the might shed some light on the matter...

http://www.clpi.org/legal_defs.html

Albert Wat, Program Director
DC Schools Project
Office of Volunteer & Public Service - Center for Social Justice
Georgetown University, Poulton Hall
1421 37th St., NW, 1st Floor
Washington, DC 20057
Tel: (202)687-8868  Fax: (202)687-8980
https://data.georgetown.edu/outreach/csj/service/programs/dcsp/



George E. Demetrion wrote:

>Colleagues:
>
>A while back, there was some discussion about the illegitimacy of
>utilizing the NIFL airwaves for purposes of lobbying.  Unfortunately, the
>definition and parameters of what lobbying consists of remains vague.
>
>As I understand it, the lobbying issue is based on the Hatch Act.  I
>could be wrong about that, and if so, I would like to be corrected.
>
>However, as I understand the Hatch Act, it principally prohibits use of
>federal funds for advocacy related to political elections.
>
>I scanned the Hatch Act once, some time ago, and didn't see any reference
>to advocacy in support or against specific legislation.  It may be there
>and if so, I'd like to be informed.  Even if it is not, one might draw a
>reasonable inference (from a loose rather than tight construction of the
>law) that such advocacy for or against legislation violates the sprit of
>the Hatch Act.  But even there, unless it is specifically in the Act,
>that would be an assumption that would need vigorous public discussion
>than simply assumed.
>
>In any event, when one gets to the point of analogizing US foreign policy
>(and foreign policy is almost always linked to domestic policy, and that
>is the point), unless I'm reading it wrong, it is a very large stretch to
>prohibit such discussions based on the mandate against lobbying.
>
>Now, perhaps that specific case can be made, but if so, we have not heard
>it here or claimed as NIFL-based policy.  What we have is a general
>mandate against lobbying, but a very vague definition of what lobbing is
>and the basis upon which it is prohibited.
>
>The mandates of civic literacy require clarification on this matter.
>
>George Demetrion
>
>  
>


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