McDonough Criticizes Dems' Failure to Act on 'Do Not Mail/E-Mail' Proposal

Assemblyman David G. McDonough and members of the Assembly Republican conference last week expressed frustration at their majority colleagues' failure to act on legislation that would allow New Yorkers to have their names removed from direct mail and "spam" lists. The bill, which would create a "Do Not Mail/E-mail" registry patterned after the state's highly successful "Do Not Call" telemarketing list, was held in the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee. No action is pending.

"Unsolicited junk mail is more than a mere annoyance, it has tangible adverse economical and ecological effects," said Minority Leader Charles H. Nesbitt (R,C-Albion). "By allowing New Yorkers to opt out of bulk mailings - both paper and electronic - this measure would drastically reduce wasted time and resources, as well as restore a modicum of privacy to our homes and computers."

Under the bill, New York residents could register for the free service by calling a toll-free number or via an Internet site. Direct-mail marketers and other companies would have up to 30 days to wipe the personal information of registrants off their mailing lists, or be subject to civil penalties of up to $2,000.

"The 'Do Not Call' registry has been well-received in every corner of the state. Since its inception three years ago, well over two million New York households have taken advantage of the opportunity to free their phone lines of telemarketers," said Assemblyman McDonough, the bill's sponsor. "We believe a 'Do Not Mail/E-mail' registry would be at least as successful because, while it would rid our mail and e-mail boxes of junk mail, it would also cut back on the 500,000 tons of paper that chokes our landfills each year because of it."