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GOP Silence Frustrates Online Activists

Publication: National Journal Technology Daily


May 15, 2007

Online activists from conservative and nonpartisan organizations and blogs are getting frustrated as they push Republican lawmakers for more transparency.

The party's own activists are among those working to expose the senator or senators behind an objection to a bill that would require electronic disclosures of campaign filings. The Sunlight Foundation has asked blog readers to call every Republican senator to see who is blocking the e-filing bill from Senate passage by voice vote.

Sunlight Foundation Director Ellen Miller said backers of the measure are frustrated that "numerous" telephone calls to Senate offices have been met with a wall of silence, and she blamed Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Online GOP activists also want to know which House Republicans voted to put Ken Calvert, R-Calif., on the Appropriations Committee, a move they oppose.

RedState Editor-in-Chief Erick Erickson asked readers to bombard key members with calls. He later charged the office of House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, with telling lawmakers not to reveal their votes.

Spokesman for both Boehner and McConnell denied that the lawmakers are blocking the efforts.

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