HB 1533 -- fines for hurting legislators' feelings

[GaryM]

HB 1533 would establish civil fines for "bullying" legislators. Causing "emotional distress" to a legislator or creating a "hostile environment" would constitute bullying. The content of email or a website counts as bullying if it "interferes with a member’s legislative opportunities."

The chilling effect could be huge. Let's say that I post an analysis of a bill and urge people to write to their legislators against it, and let's say that I succeed in provoking so much outrage that the legislator finds it necessary to withdraw the bill. As I read HB 1533, I could be guilty of "bullying."

The hearing on the bill is Tuesday, February 7, LOB 206, at 1:00 PM.

Bill text: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2012/HB1533.html

[MaineShark]

I was working so I couldn't make it - anyone attend and see how the hearing went?

[KBCraig]

I was working so I couldn't make it - anyone attend and see how the hearing went?

I hope nobody got their feelings hurt.

[GaryM]

I went to the hearing and spoke against the bill. The committee seemed generally skeptical about it. It's apparently the result of one legislator's complaints against the House Speaker, possibly legitimate on a personal level though the bill would be killing a fly with an elephant gun. Two representatives spoke for it, then I was the next speaker; after that I left, so I don't know how things went from there. I got questions from three legislators, which I think I handled reasonably well.

[Kelly Voluntaryist]

Great....something else I can sit in a cage for.  Just fantastic.