Lawmakers approve legislation to limit robocalls.

Byline: David Steves The Register-Guard

SALEM - Robocallers' days could soon be numbered after the House's unanimous approval Thursday of a bill reining in those pesky automated phone messages.

Outside the Capitol, most people are in agreement that calls from businesses offering to refinance a home loan or political campaigns pushing dirt about an opponent are annoying. But that sentiment isn't always shared by the folks in charge of passing laws to deal with them, said Rep. Vicki Berger, given that legislators rely on robocalls as a low-cost way to get their campaign messages out to thousands of voters.

"How do you feel about robocalls?" the Salem Republican asked during the debate. "Maybe you're not exactly the ones I should ask. How do your constituents feel about robocalls?"

Legislator resistance to the proposal led to delays in moving the bill and charges that opponents were trying to kill it in the House after it passed 19-10 in the Senate in May. But changes made in committee last week apparently paved the way for its 53-0 approval in the House.

In Senate Bill 863's earlier form, most automated calls would have been prohibited unless a consumer consented to such calls. Arguments that such a ban violated constitutionally protected free-expression rights led to a change in the bill. It now allows consumers to block the calls by registering their phone numbers on the no-call list (www.donotcall.gov). The bill also sets rules for those who make robocalls. They can't be placed between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., can't tie up a line more than 10 seconds after the receiver has hung up, and callers can't falsify their identity.

Rep. Mike Shaufler, a Happy Valley Democrat whose re-election campaign drew robocalls to voters targeting him for defeat, seemed to share the same level of disdain for them as that of ordinary Oregonians.

"Every Oregonian hates these calls. They all hate them and nobody likes them," he said. "They're used to bash people over the head by a bunch of cowards in political campaigns. I'm sick of them. You're sick of them."

Chief sponsor Sen. Rick Metsger, D-Welches, said he drafted the amendments and fully supported the changes. He said he was hopeful the Senate would concur with the House's version next week and send the bill to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.