Measure would prevent talk of ethics complaints (Alaska)

[Bandit]

The Senate majority rejected a bid by Democrats Thursday to strike a provision in two ethics bills allowing the attorney general to fine people who tell anyone that they've filed or intend to file an ethics complaint against a public official.
The provision would allow a civil fine up to $5,000.
<snip>
Sen. Hollis French, D-Anchorage, charged that the provision violates the First Amendment and the spirit of the Declaration of Independence.
He offered amendments to strike the provision in both bills.
"This nation was born in dissent. ... That's how we became a nation," French said.
<snip>
"If I tell my wife that I am going to file an ethics complaint, I may be subject to a $5,000 fine," he said.
"Sometimes the most difficult thing that a citizen can do is speak ill of somebody in power. ... Now we are going to make it very expensive for them to do that," Elton said.
http://juneauempire.com/stories/050605/sta_20050506013.shtml

[TahitiNut]

1. When tested, it'll fail Constitutional muster. Until then, it'll have ...

... yet another chilling effect on dissent and free speech. A lttle bit at a time, the fascists are like termites eating away at our freedoms: freedome of conscience, freedom of faith, freedom of speech, freedom of labor, you-name-it.

[keopeli]

2. What makes you think our new, conservative Sup. Court will strike it down?

[TahitiNut]

3. Because they want Gag Orders limited to the Judiciary.

They're jealous of their powers.