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donal brown

Federal court says Oregon law regulating initiatives does not violate First Amendment

donal brown March 25, 2010

A federal court judge ruled that Oregon’s regulations on gathering signatures for voter initiatives did not prevent petitioners from exercising their rights to free speech. -db The Oregonian March 24, 2010 By Jeff Mapes Oregon’s tough restrictions on paid initiative canvassers have been upheld by a federal judge who ruled they did not violate the free-speech rights of petitioners. In an attempt to cut down on initiative fraud, the Legislature in 2007 passed a sweeping

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Provision of health care reform requires drug companies to report payments to doctors

donal brown March 25, 2010

A provision of the national health care law passed last week allows the public to know the gifts and payments made to doctors and teaching hospitals by pharmaceutical companies. -db California Watch Commentary March 24, 2010 By Christina Jewett A little-noticed provision in the health reform bill will shed significant light on the payments drug and device companies make to doctors and teaching hospitals in California and the rest of the nation. The section of

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Tulare County: Supervisors missing the point in efforts to justify private lunch meetings

donal brown March 25, 2010

A Visalia Times-Delta  editorial argues that the Tulare County supervisors are violating the state’s open meeting law by convening as often as three times a week for lunch not open to the public. The supervisors are writing a policy to justify the practice which they claim is for the purpose of team building rather than to conduct official business. -db Visalia Times-Delta Editorial March 11, 2010 Tulare County supervisors apparently believe the only thing wrong with

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Calaveras County: Citizens claim open meeting violation in silencing speaker

donal brown March 25, 2010

Residents of Calaveras County are rising to the defense of a fellow citizen whom the Board of Supervisors shut down while he was delivering a diatribe against a supervisor. They say the state’s open government law does not permit shutting down speakers just for critical comments. -db Calaveras Enterprise March 25, 2010 By Claudette Langley A Calaveras County Board of Supervisors action earlier this month not only triggered protests from residents, but may have also violated

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Open government: California lawmakers consider limits on text messaging

donal brown March 25, 2010

As local governments are struggling with the issue of government officials texting and e-mailing during meetings, the state legislature is considering a law preventing lobbyists from texting lawmakers on the floor or in committee. Open government advocates say that electronic devices are difficult to monitor, and one advocate suggests that full disclosure of contacts with special interests would do more to ensure transparency. -db Weekly Calistogan March 25, 2010 By John Waters Jr. It’s may be

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