The Internet has the potential to greatly increase the average citizen's participation in the democratic process by keeping voters abreast of important pending legislation. Unfortunately, these notices often contain misinformation or remain in circulation long after they are outdated.

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Congress will be voting on a bill that would prohibit the use of affirmative action measures in admissions procedures at any colleges and universities that receive federal funding. Fourteen black colleges are about to be closed. The four major U.S. credit bureaus will be allowed to share your credit information with anyone who requests it after July 1 unless you specifically request to be excluded. The voting rights of Black American citizens will expire in 2007. SBC Ameritech customers must contact the company within thirty days to prevent the sale of their personal information. Congress will soon be voting on whether or not your phone company will be allowed to charge you long-distance rates for accessing the Internet. The FCC plans to loosen its strictures against conglomerate ownership of media. The federal government has established a national "Do Not Call" registry to stop calls from telemarketers. Telemarketers are luring those who've signed up for the national "Do Not Call" registry by getting them to request coupons for free products. A bill passed by the Texas legislature will outlaw using a cell phone while operating a motor vehicle as of 1 September 2003. A bill currently before Congress (HR 219) would prevent Mexicans who worked in the USA illegally from claiming Social Security benefits. A moratorium on Internet taxation expires in 2007. Regulations taking effect 10 February 2009 will prohibit the resale of used children's items that have not been tested for lead and phthalates. Message lists federal authority-defying legislation passed by the state of Oklahoma. * Entries marked with an asterisk will display in a separate browser window.

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