Rep. Paul Ryan announces opposition to SOPA

Daily Kos Staff

Monday January 09, 2012 · 9:24 AM PST

2012/01/09 · 09:24

Rep. Paul Ryan (Jason Reed/Reuters)

The opposition to the STOP Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and its companion bill in the Senate, Protect IP Act (PIPA), is growing not just among tech companies and journalistic trade associations, but on the Hill, too. And it's bipartisan. Here's Rep. Paul Ryan, (R-WI), chairman of the House Budget Committee.

The internet is one of the most magnificent expressions of freedom and free enterprise in history. It should stay that way. While H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act, attempts to address a legitimate problem, I believe it creates the precedent and possibility for undue regulation, censorship and legal abuse. I do not support H.R. 3261 in its current form and will oppose the legislation should it come before the full House.

Ryan's committee doesn't have jurisdiction, but his chairmanship of it gives him a degree of power in House leadership, so it's a pretty important defection on the bill. But it's also important in demonstrating that opposition to the bill is indeed bipartisan, particularly since Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has been harping on its bipartisan support as a reason to rush it to the Senate floor.

If you haven't yet contacted your representative or senators about this legislation, please do. You can use this form to send an e-mail to your representative, and this one to contact your Senators. This is one of those rare occasions in which it doesn't matter if you're represented by a Democrat or Republican—opposition to this one is widespread and bipartisan and needs to grow.

Rep. Paul Ryan announces opposition to SOPA

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