Bill Text: MO HCR83 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Strongly urges Congress to close the loophole in the "Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act" and strengthen the penalties for violators
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-05-14 - Referred: Crime Prevention (H) [HCR83 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2010-HCR83-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 83
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES ROORDA (Sponsor), TALBOY, KUESSNER, LeVOTA, LAMPE, BURNETT, KANDER, BRINGER, FRAME, WEBBER, SCHUPP, COLONA, ENGLUND, McNEIL, NEWMAN, HUMMEL, OXFORD, ATKINS, YAEGER, LOW, HARRIS AND KELLY (Co-sponsors).
Whereas, earlier this year it was revealed that the Republican National Committee (RNC) was sending out a fundraising letter that came in an envelope starkly printed with the words "DO NOT DESTROY OFFICIAL DOCUMENT" and describes itself, on the outside of the envelope, as a "census document"; and
Whereas, after the RNC letter was denounced by both Democrats and Republicans, Congress passed a law that requires mailings marked "census" to state the name and address of the sender and to contain an unambiguous disclaimer that the survey is not affiliated with the federal government; and
Whereas, the United States Senate approved the bill by unanimous consent and it passed the United States House of Representatives by a vote of 416-0; and
Whereas, today, the RNC is continuing to send out a misleading fundraising mailer labeled "Census Document" just weeks after Congress passed a law aimed at banning such mailers; and
Whereas, according to an RNC spokesman, they have decided that the law does not apply to their mailer; and
Whereas, while some, including a spokesman for Representative Darrell Issa of California, have said that the RNC "didn't break the law", but they exploited a loophole in the legislation. Rep. Issa has introduced legislation to close the loophole; and
Whereas, on April 26, 2010, the Nebraska Democratic Party filed the first legal action for mail fraud against the RNC for sending out deceiving mailers and a member of Congress has also confirmed that the United States Postal Service is investigating the matter:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-fifth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly urge the United States Congress to close the loophole in the "Prevent Deceptive Census Look Alike Mailings Act" and strengthen the penalties for use of deceptive mailers for political purposes which are disguised as census forms; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and each member of the Missouri Congressional Delegation.•
