donal brown

Washington: Federal judge rejects plea by anti-gay marriage PAC to suspend campaign finance laws

Seatlle Post Intelligencer October 27, 2009 By Chris Grygiel Family PAC said the campaign finance laws were hampering their ability to collect contributions before the November 3 election on Referendum 71 extending domestic partnership rights for gay couples. The law limits donations to small contributions in the last weeks before the election which according to the PAC violates the free speech rights of large donors. Last week, the U.S. Supreme court blocked release of the

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Lengthy comments at Lake County planning meeting frustrates reporter

A Lake County reporter argues that allowing citizens unlimited time to speak at public meetings is detrimental. She says that putting time limits on speakers will force them to make cogent arguments thus making their arguments more effective and strengthening democratic processes. -DB Lake County Record-Bee Commentary October 28, 2009 By Katy Sweeny In “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” James Stewart plays idealistic and newly appointed Sen. Jefferson Smith. The senator uses a filibuster to block

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City college student body president faces recall over pro-life display on campus

World Net Daily October 29, 200 By Chelsea Schilling The Sacrament City College student government president faced a hastily organized recall election for allowing the Genocide Awareness Project to present a pro-life exhibit at a two-day event celebrating the Constitution and free speech. When the administration asked him to tell the group to leave campus, he refused upsetting the administration who then facilitated the recall effort. -DB

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Organization for digital rights establishes new website to attack internet censorship

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has established a website “Takedown Hall of Shame” to call attention to internet censorship through what they say are “bogus copyright claims or other legal threats.” -DB Electronic Frontier Foundaton Press Release October 27, 2009 SAN FRANCISCO – Websites like YouTube have ushered in a new era of creativity and free speech on the Internet, but not everyone is celebrating. Some of the web’s most interesting content has been yanked from

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Judge removes barrier to New Jersey exit polling

Saying that he had never found evidence that exit polling created disorder at a polling place, a federal judge issued an injunction against New Jersey in its attempts to ban the polling with 100 feet of polling places. -DB Reporters Committee on Freedom of the Press October 26, 2009 By Rory Eastburg Judge blocks New Jersey ban on exit polling A federal judge in New Jersey issued a preliminary injunction Friday blocking that state’s attempt

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