The Online Freedom of Speech Act (H.R. 1606) would exempt the Internet — including blogs, e-mail, and other online speech — from being subject to campaign finance laws and Federal Election Commission regulation.
Because supporters attempted to pass the bill under a suspension of the rules, a two-thirds majority of those present and voting was required for passage. Supporters got a solid majority but not the necessary two-thirds, and the legislation was rejected on November 2, 2005 by a vote of 225-182 (Roll Call 559). We have assigned pluses to the yeas because the bill would protect free speech.
