The Jawbone Act aims to curb government power plays, but can it work? 

Government officials and other powerful people often use arm-twisting to apply pressure to promote their preferred objectives. The practice, known as “jawboning,” is as old as human history itself — basically a bully pulpit with more intensity. Their high-pressured rhetoric often comes off as distasteful. Debate in the public sphere, however, is often raucous and harsh — something the nation’s framers certainly knew when the First Amendment was created. 

Recently proposed legislation by two senators from opposite sides of the aisle would theoretically put an end to the practice of government jawboning. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) have introduced the Jawbone Act, which aims to stop government agencies or officials from threatening private entities to coerce compliance, or limit a company’s First Amendment rights. Such arm twisting, as written in the text of the bill, “threatens freedom of speech and open inquiry.” That sounds noble enough. Nobody wants government bullies forcing their will on defenseless and wimpy media corporations. 

A parade of public interest organizations has lined up to support the effort, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Protect Democracy, Independent Women’s Voice, and Knight First Amendment Institute. They all basically warn that government jawboning suppresses the free expression of broadcasters, content providers and social media platforms, coercing them into compliance. 

The bill would allow recipients of government jawboning to sue for monetary damages. This is probably a good........

© The Hill