When campaign ads aren’t

It may look and sound like a political ad and, now, even have been coordinated with a candidate’s campaign, but its backers aren’t subject to Kansas campaign finance laws if the ad doesn’t explicitly tell people for whom to vote. That’s according to a frustrating advisory opinion issued by the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission. The panel can’t do anything about “issue advocacy groups,” which can spend as much as they want with no disclosure of donor lists or expenditures, until the Legislature does. “That’s the law and it will be until Kansas changes it,” said Carol Williams, executive director of the commission. In any case, get ready for more such ads and mailers this year.

5 Comments

  1. johngalt
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:24 am | Permalink

    Ya gotta love it when the press wants to limit someone’s elses political speech.

    Rhonda, you might try reading the Wisconsin Right to Life case (US Sup Ct) where issue ads are protected political speech.

    That pesky 1st amendment seems to be in the way of your political agenda.

  2. MaxGrobnik
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:31 am | Permalink

    Another example of failure of Government Regulation.

    How well do ya think Government will handle the UnFairness Doctrine after the Democrats pass this law next year?

  3. MaxGrobnik
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 10:44 am | Permalink

    Just like Gun Control, the Libs want to also regulate Freedom of Speech – Speech Control.

    My question is: Who decides what is allowed and what isn’t allowed?

    Can I shout “Fire” if the movie theater REALLY IS on fire?

  4. Franklin
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:23 pm | Permalink

    Carol Williams is a tyrant with no respect, whatsoever, for the 1st Amendment.

    Liberal Journalists at the Eagle and elsewhere want campaign laws, so that they can expand their monopoly over ideas, thought and speech.

    The First Amendment forbids what Frauline Williams wants.

  5. Franklin
    Posted June 30, 2008 at 6:27 pm | Permalink

    Hey, lets put a special tax on newspapers!

    Newspapers cut down trees, trees which would, otherwise, use up CO2.

    Newspapers use massive amounts of energy.

    Why?

    Why can’t we just use the internet, radio and television?

    It is time for limits on Newspapers!

    — Wait, retract all of that, the MARKET is already putting limits on Newspapers!

    Every time the Newspapers lay someone off, it is one less “unpaid staff member” for Obama!

2 Trackbacks

  1. By wisconsin real estate on July 13, 2008 at 11:09 am

    wisconsin real estate…

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  2. By Asthma on July 15, 2008 at 7:39 pm

    Asthma…

    nice post about this…..