Work has started in the state senate on the proposed law that to let people eat dinner without being interrupted by somebody trying to sell them windows, credit cards, or other things they don’t need. “A pain in the neck” is the way one state senator describes telemarketers. “Harassment” is what another senator says sometimes happens. Senator Jerry Howard’s bill would establish a no-call list with the Attorney General. Consumers will be able to get their names on that list. Telemarketers who call those people anyway could face prison time. Senator Bill Kenney likes the concept but doesn’t think the Attorney General should run the program. He says it’s a job for the Secretary of State. But Howard says that would only delay processing of complaints when time is important in catching telemarketers who might not be there tomorrow. The Senate has rejected Kenney’s proposed change. Members will talk more about Howard’s bill later.
