Undisclosed Interests: Legislators fight corruption by silencing their critics.

[thundley4]

In a 1996 law review article, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan warned that campaign finance laws "easily can serve as incumbent-protection devices, insulating current officeholders from challenge and criticism." The DISCLOSE Act, a speech-squelching bill supported by the man who nominated Kagan, is a good example.

President Obama and congressional Democrats say the DISCLOSE Act, which is expected to come up for a vote soon, is aimed at ensuring transparency and preventing corruption in the wake of Citizens United v. FEC, the January decision in which the Supreme Court lifted restrictions on political speech by corporations and unions. But the bill's onerous, lopsided requirements suggest its supporters are more interested in silencing their critics.

Consider the ban on independent expenditures by government contractors, under which thousands of businesses would be forbidden to run ads mentioning a candidate for federal office from 90 days before the primary through the general election. Although this provision is supposed to prevent the exchange of helpful ads for taxpayer money, it applies even to businesses that win contracts through competitive bidding. Furthermore, the ban does not apply to Democrat-friendly, taxpayer-dependent interests such as public employee unions and recipients of government grants.

Likewise, the DISCLOSE Act prohibits corporations from engaging in pre-election political speech if 20 percent or more of their equity is owned by foreign nationals. That provision would bar U.S.-based companies with foreign investors, such as Verizon and ConocoPhillips, from publicly addressing issues that affect their American shareholders and employees. Although the official aim is preventing foreign interference with U.S. elections, the ban would not apply to international unions such as the SEIU and the UFCW or to international activist groups such as Greenpeace and Human Rights First.

Reason.com

I don't like this. It sounds like it could include political commentary even on boards like this or even making posts on Facebook, besides including political blogs.

[The Village Idiot]

The Shut Them Up Act

Wait until the government starts subsidizing newspapers and deciding what is a journalist.

[thundley4]

The Shut Them Up Act

Wait until the government starts subsidizing newspapers and deciding what is a journalist.

You mean like the Michigan congressman that wants journalists to be registered and licensed by the state?  http://trueslant.com/caitlinkelly/2010/06/02/show-me-your-license-maam-michigan-senator-only-wants-legit-journalists/

[bkg]

The Shut Them Up Act

Wait until the government starts subsidizing newspapers and deciding what is a journalist.

Please report to the FTC journalism reinvention thread...

thank you.