From The “HooRay, More Criminalization Of Everything!” Dept.
While the two parties do have their differences, and no one in Congress is willing to compromise in order to fix the budget and stuff, they are very much in lock-step where it counts…. Destroying the Constitution and eroding our freedoms!
As part of this legislation, Congress expressly forbids trespass onto the grounds of the White House. Many likely believe that such a law already existed and they are right. The controversial aspect of this bill’s restatement of that statute is that it expands the scope of the federal government’s authority to bring charges against those deemed trespassers at any location placed provisionally under the jurisdiction of the Secret Service.
The present state of the law prosecutes White House trespassers under a local Washington, D.C. ordinance. Prior to this latest federal action, violation of this ordinance was a misdemeanor.
Under HR 347, however, the Congress endows itself with the unbounded power to impose federal criminal charges on not only those who enter the White House grounds without prior permission, but on anyone who participates in protests at or near a location falling within the greatly enlarged scope of this new prohibited zone.
Another article notes:
It’s not just the president who would be spared from protesters, either.
Covered under the bill is any person protected by the Secret Service. Although such protection isn’t extended to just everybody, making it a federal offense to even accidentally disrupt an event attended by a person with such status essentially crushes whatever currently remains of the right to assemble and peacefully protest.
Gee, a politician actually having to hear or see someone protesting that people don’t really like what they are doing… How Inconvenient!
And you wonder why I won’t vote for anyone from either party anymore!
Stupid Government | Sonicfrog March 5, 2012 | 
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