January 26, 2005

WASHINGTON - Sixth District Congressman Tom Petri (R- Fond du Lac) introduced legislation Wednesday to regulate campaign "smear polls" - a campaign tactic designed to spread slanderous charges.

Petri explained that during a smear poll, a caller claiming to be taking a poll spreads negative, and generally false, information about a political opponent. "When the person being 'polled' is asked if his or her support for candidate 'X' would continue if they learned that the candidate had never paid any taxes, had embezelled from his employer, liked to drown puppies or some other charge, it makes little difference if the allegation is true because the charge has been planted. The pollster can say he was asking a question rather than making an allegation, but the effect is the same," Petri said.

Because candidates should take responsibility for their campaigns, Petri said that his bill would require all polls conducted for federal candidates which contact more than 1,200 homes to identify the poll's sponsor. For polls which will not be made public, poll sponsors would be required to file with the Federal Election Commission the cost of the poll, a count of households contacted, and a transcript of the poll's questions.

Petri's bill has nine original cosponsors from both political parties: Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY); Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL); Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA); Rep. Gene Taylor (D-MS); Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA); Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT); Rep. Timothy V. Johnson (R-IL); Rep. Ron Kind (D- WI); and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-CT).

"Overall, a very busy Congress," he said.

Rep. Petri spoke on the floor of the House to announce the introduction of his bill. His comments follow:

Mr. Speaker,

Today, I am introducing legislation to increase the disclosure requirements for telephone "push polls."

My bill, the Push Poll Disclosure Act of 2005, uses the light of public disclosure to lift the darkness surrounding these smear polls, which are a campaign device to spread disinformation about candidates under cover of a legitimate poll.

They are not, however, real polls. Their only purpose is to create a negative image among the voting public without leaving a visible trace.

My bill combats this obnoxious practice by requiring increased disclosure for polls when more than 1,200 households are included.

The time has come to regulate smear polls for what they are -- a campaign tactic -- and make those who employ this tactic take full responsibility for their actions.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.