Lawmaker Proposes Politicians Be Added To Phone Ban
Lawmaker Proposes Politicians Be Added To Phone Ban
HARTFORD (AP) â A state legislator is proposing to place politicians on the list of telemarketers and businesses banned under the stateâs do-not-call law.
Senator Anthony Guglielmo, R-Stafford Springs, said it is a matter of fairness and making government officials live by the same rules as the rest of the public.
âBut to carve out an exemption for ourselves that we donât allow others to do is why the public doesnât like politicians,â Mr Guglielmo said.
The state adopted its do-not-call list in 2001. It allows residents to add their name to a state-maintained list. Telemarketers were then forbidden to call phone numbers on the list.
Under Connecticut law, all charitable organizations and political campaigns were exempt.
Senator Thomas Colapietro, D-Terryville, chairman of the General Law Committee that will review the bill, said he supports the bill but doubts the legislature will approve it.
âThere is a question about free speech since these candidates arenât selling anything. I will give it a public hearing. If it passes Iâll be happy, but I donât think it will pass,â Mr Colapietro said.
In 2003, Congress adopted a federal do-not-call list and the state registry was absorbed into the federal registry.
Still, the federal law allows states to determine who is forbidden and who exempt from calling a number on the list.
Telemarketers cannot call anyone on the list 31 days after a number was added without facing with a fine of up to $11,000.