A state Assembly bill that would add political robocalls to the do-not-call list received a public hearing before the Assembly Committee on State Affairs and Government Operations Thursday.
Robocalls are automated telephone calls that deliver pre-recorded messages sent by an electronic dialing machine. Citizens often receive such messages from political campaigns during election season.
“[These calls] have become a nuisance and a harassment and if there’s something we can do, we should do it,” said author of the bill, Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh. Hintz said he understands interest groups and organizations value the low-cost ability to get their message out to voters through automated telephone calls, but said he believes there is an obligation to respond to constituents’ complaints.
“This is the perfect storm of a popular issue with a bipartisan solution, and it doesn’t cost a thing,” Hintz said.
The bill must be passed in a committee executive session for the bill to be brought to the Assembly Floor.
