Hatch, Leahy team up with plan to fight spam

Offending spammers could be sentenced from one to five years in prison, depending on the violation and whether it is a repeat offense. Also, they may be ordered to forfeit any profits and computer equipment used in the crimes. Offenders could also be sued privately for damages.

Committee members said they only wish the bill went further. For example, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. — after saying how much he hates spam — said he would like to create a "do-not-spam" list of computer users who sign up to stop unsolicited e-mail.

He said he hopes to work with Hatch and Leahy to possibly add that to their bill as an amendment when the full Senate debates it. Several members nodded or added verbal calls for that.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., also said she hopes the Senate could even go a step further and somehow soon attack Web sites and peer-to-peer systems that give pornographic or other unwanted information to children and others who search for such innocuous terms as "Pokemon" and "Harry Potter."

Hatch said he also wants to do more in that area and hopes to work with Leahy and Democrats on it. Leahy said he does too, "and I bet a vast majority of both parties will vote for it."

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E-mail: leed@dgsys.com