Congress Evaluates Political Speech in Blogs

A story in today's Kansas City Star explored the topic of blogs as political speech. Congress is also evaluating this issue to determine if campaign blogs and Web sites are subject to the transparency required of television commercials or if they are protected from campaign disclosure, like newspaper editorials.

Congress is scheduled to debate this today. One plan wants to protect bloggers and the internet. Another alternative plan only regulates blogs and Web sites that spend less than a certain amount on an issue. This alternative aims to protect "99% of bloggers" but regulate parties or groups acting as individuals.

The evaluation of blog speech by Congress certainly proves the legitimacy and the power of blogs. Any legislation from Congress could ultimately determine how much power blogs will continue to have.