WASHINGTON -- North Carolina Congresswoman Virginia Foxx wants there to be a way for people to opt-out of receiving political robocalls.

• Foxx reintroduced her so-called "Robo COP Act"
• It directs the Federal Trade Commission to expand the type of calls restricted by the "Do Not Call" registry
• Foxx argues her bill does not infringe on free speech

With the start of the new Congress, Foxx reintroduced her "Robo COP Act." The legislation directs the Federal Trade Commission to expand the type of calls restricted by the "Do Not Call" registry to include automated political messages.

"It doesn’t forbid those calls," said Foxx, R-5th District. "It simply says if I want to be on a list not to receive those calls, I should be able to be on a list not receive them."

The rule would not apply to political phone banks, only pre-recorded messages.

"They can come anytime, day or night, seven days a week. They’re annoying," Foxx said.

Judges have struck down laws in a handful of states where they banned political robocalls, citing First Amendment concerns. Foxx argues her bill does not infringe on free speech because its not an outright ban.​

This is not a new idea. Foxx says she’s been pushing for similar legislation since she first joined Congress more than a decade ago.  So, why has the bill never really gotten anywhere? In part, it may come down to politics.

"Some legislators are uncomfortable putting restrictions on political calls, they think it might possibly be against their interests," said Maureen Mahoney, an analyst with Consumer Reports. 

However, Mahoney noted, she has heard from consumers who get "frustrated" by unsolicited political calls.

Mahoney says generally, Consumer Reports supports giving individuals more control over whether they receive calls. However, she says, phone calls are just the tip of the iceberg. 

"We’ve also been hearing increasingly about political texts," she said. "Consumers are receiving more of those on their phones. So, it’s also important robocall laws protect texts as well."

In other words, while the fight over calls continues, a new political frontier is being forged.