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donal brown

Governor Schwarzenegger vetoes open government, free speech bills

donal brown October 12, 2009

Facing a midnight deadline to sign or veto hundreds of bills, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger relented on threats to impose a mass veto over lack of progress on overhauling the state’s water system and signed at least 168 of the bills into law, but two open government and free speech bills were not among the 168. Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 218 to bring auxiliary organizations in the University of California and California State University systems under public

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Access rule governing state court records out for public comment

donal brown October 8, 2009

The policy body of the state’s courts has published for public comment a rule providing right of access to administrative court records. The deadline for comment is October 29. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association October 7, 2009 The Judicial Council, the policymaking body of the state’s courts, has published for public comment a proposed rule of court that would provide the public a right of access to administrative court records. The deadline for comments is

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Governor’s political game threatens key open government/free speech bills

donal brown October 8, 2009

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is holding over 700 bills hostage to gain approval of a water deal with the legislature. Among the 700 bills are four bills that advance the cause of open government and freedom of speech. -DB California Newspaper Publishers Association Commentary October 7, 2009 With the Sunday deadline fast approaching, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed only 3 of the over 700 bills on his desk. While a bit coy regarding his intentions on

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Free speech concerns arise with new guidelines on disclosing gifts from manufacturers to their internet bloggers

donal brown October 8, 2009

The Federal Trade Commission approved new guidelines this week requiring manufacturers and bloggers on their payroll to disclose exchanges of free merchandise. The guidelines do not apply to journalists. There are concerns that extending the guidelines to the social media may have undesirable effects in restricting free speech. -DB Media and Communications Law Society Suffolk University Law School Opinion October 8, 2009 By Denise Ouellet The Federal Trade Commission announced on Monday that it will now require

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Citizen sues San Francisco Ethics Commission: Alleges commission withheld public records

donal brown October 7, 2009

Allen Grossman, an open government advocate, has filed suit in San Francisco, charging that the Ethics Commission has suppressed public records regarding their failure to enforce violations of state and local open government laws. -DB Press Release October 6, 2009 In a lawsuit filed Monday in the San Francisco Superior Court, Open Government advocate Allen Grossman charges that the Ethics Commission suppressed public records relating to its consistent failure to enforce violations of state and local

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