Between a user of the First Amendment and a government regulator/rationer/hall monitor of same.
The backdrop:
Corporations, labor unions, tribes and other groups that pay for advertising for or aganst candidates for state office will have to disclose their spending this election cycle.
The Government Accountability Board said an emergency rule adopted Monday will do as much as possible under current Wisconsin law to let the public know who is trying to influence the outcome of elections. ... groups that spend money for or against candidates will have to register with the state, routinely report their spending and put "paid for by" disclaimers with their names on all ads they sponsor. [Associated Press 5-10-10]
The issue:
U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan said: "This is about what kind of country we are going to be. A choice on the future path of this country. ... Should we now subscribe to an ideology where government creates rights, is solely responsible for delivering these artificial rights, then systematically rations these rights?"
The colloquy:
From: David Blaska
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 7:36 PM
To: Becker, Jonathan - GAB
Subject: emergency rule
Has the Government Accountability Board adopted a rule to require corporations spending money supporting or opposing Wisconsin political candidates to disclose their activities? If so, will it apply to corporations like Capitol Newspapers Inc.?
...
On May 11, 2010, at 12:14 PM, Becker, Jonathan - GAB wrote:
Yes, the Board adopted an emergency rule at its meeting yesterday. It applies to all corporations, except that s. 11.30 (4), Stats., still applies to exempt "fair coverage of bona fide news stories, interviews with candidates and other politically active individuals, editorial comment or endorsement."
Jonathan Becker Administrator, Division of Ethics and Accountability Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
...
From: David Blaska
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 12:40 PM
To: Becker, Jonathan - GAB
Subject: Re: emergency rule
So Epic Corp or Allen Bradley could take out an ad (rent the press) in the daily newspaper saying "We endorse Scott Walker for governor" and be exempt?
...
On May 11, 2010, at 2:13 PM, Becker, Jonathan - GAB wrote:
No. I did not quote the entire statutory provision. The exception applies to communications media, such as Capitol Newspapers. It applies to the newspaper's endorsement in the editorial pages. If Capitol Newspapers bought an ad in the Journal sentinel, it would require reporting. Ads purchased by Epic or Allen Bradley require reporting by those corporations; it would not trigger reporting by Capitol Newspapers if it ran those ads (unless it selectively discounted the cost of such ads).
Jonathan Becker Administrator, Division of Ethics and Accountability Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
...
From: David Blaska Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:20 PM To: Becker, Jonathan - GAB Subject: Re: emergency rule
Not to argue -- you know how much we hate to do that -- but once again, certain corporations have more freedom of speech than others. Where is the 14th Amendment on this? Fortunately, Blaska's Blog claims all constitutional protections.
...
On May 11, 2010, at 2:24 PM, Becker, Jonathan - GAB wrote:
So you think newspapers should be treated the same as other corporations? You have to talk to the legislature to change the law.
Jonathan Becker Administrator, Division of Ethics and Accountability Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
...
From: David Blaska Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 2:30 PM To: Becker, Jonathan - GAB Subject: Re: emergency rule
No, I think other corporations should be treated as newspapers. We all of us have the First Amendment, not just a chosen few. Why should John Nichols have more free speech than Jim Pugh?
Re: the Legislature -- I think Citizens United spoke to that.
...
On May 11, 2010, at 2:32 PM, Becker, Jonathan - GAB wrote:
Yes, Citizens United said that requiring disclosure is constitutional.
Jonathan Becker Administrator, Division of Ethics and Accountability Wisconsin Government Accountability Board
...
From: David Blaska Subject: Re: emergency rule Date: May 11, 2010 2:37:03 PM CDT Subject: Re: emergency rule
John Nichols does not have to report the cost of his salary, the cost of the press run, the delivery system pro-rated to his election eve endorsement/hit job of a candidate. In point of fact, tens of thousands of dollars may have been expended to derail one candidacy and support another. None of which gets reported. The solution is for Harley Davidson Inc. to publish a one-off "newspaper" with its own editorials, "news" content, etc. Yes, disclosure is constitutional ... so let's apply it across the board.
[End of thread]
Update on Sheriff Mahoney's illegal immigrant policy
The good guys were badly outnumbered at Thursday's public hearing by the County Task Force For Illegal Immigration.
As Madame Brenda blogs, "Only 4 intolerant old white guys showed up to testify in support of the sheriff, one of them being Blaska."
So glad the Left does not profile or stereotype.
I did not catch her name but an over-tolerant, young, white woman in full dudgeon, her voice quaking with mistaken indignation, likened the sheriff's policy to Jim Crow laws and the Japanese-American internment camps during WW2,for which she received a rousing round of applause from the largely hispanic audience.
What? Are the UW teaching assistants on strike again? Is history not being taught on campus? Jim Crow laws and the internment camps were notorious because they were aimed at American citizens. Citizens!
Blaska, old, white, male and intolerant of stupidity, did speak.
After which, he was asked by Task Force member Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff whether he supported depriving illegal immigrants of their constitutional rights. The squire of the stately manor suggested that illegal immigrants, being illegal, do not enjoy the full blessings of the Constitution. Even if you argue they do, ask yourself this: if the sheriff's actions were illegal, don't you think the advocacy groups would be asking Federal Judge Barbara Crabb for the injunction order right quick?
More beneficial police action
Madison police set up shop at four intersections on the west side posing as panhandlers. Instead, they handed out pamphlets encouraging people not to give handouts to these people.
"What many don't realize is many holding signs aren't homeless and are just looking to exploit citizen generosity, often in order to support drug or alcohol addictions," said Madison Police Sgt. Lori Chalecki. [The Capital Times: 05-14-10]
Exactly!
This blows my mind:
"Microscopic robots made from DNA molecules can walk, follow instructions and work together to assembly simple products on an atomic-scale assembly line, mimicking the machinery of living cells, two independent research teams announced Wednesday. ... Scientists might be able to build ... autonomous medical robots able to cruise the human bloodstream." -- [Wall Street Journal: 05-13-10]
