Polinaut: June 25, 2007 Archive

Free speech isn't cheap

Posted at 10:18 AM on June 25, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy

The U.S. Supreme Court made two 5-4 free speech rulings today. One will have a big impact on campaigns, the other on students.

Here's what Mark Sherman with the AP wrote about the the campaign finance case:

The Supreme Court loosened restrictions Monday on corporate- and union-funded television ads that air close to elections, weakening a key provision of a landmark campaign finance law.

The court, split 5-4, upheld an appeals court ruling that an anti-abortion group should have been allowed to air ads during the final two months before the 2004 elections.

The case involved advertisements that Wisconsin Right to Life was prevented from broadcasting. The ads asked voters to contact the state's two senators, Democrats Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, and urge them not to filibuster President Bush' s judicial nominees.

Feingold, a co-author of the campaign finance law, was up for re-election in 2004.

And here's the AP lead on the student speech case:

The Supreme Court tightened limits on student speech Monday, ruling against a high school student and his 14-foot-long "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" banner.

Schools may prohibit student expression that can be interpreted as advocating drug use, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court in a 5-4 ruling.

Joseph Frederick unfurled his homemade sign on a winter morning in 2002, as the Olympic torch made its way through Juneau, Alaska, en route to the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Frederick said the banner was a nonsensical message that he first saw on a snowboard. He intended the banner to proclaim his right to say anything at all.

The Daily Digest: 6-25-07

Posted at 11:38 AM on June 25, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

MPR says the Minnesota Health Department's "gold standard" isn't so gold as a result of delaying the information. The Star Tribune says questions continue to surround her.

The Star Tribune says schools boards are assembling their budgets and are looking at cutbacks.

Forum Communications says the number of children in poverty in Minnesota has greatly increased.

The Brainerd Dispatch says Attorney General Lori Swanson wants to raise fraud awareness.

National Guard soldiers start coming home.

DFL Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller has an op-ed in the Star Tribune on budget forecasting.

GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert is mentioned in this story on college coaching contracts.

Seifert also isn't giving a special session much of a chance this year.

Congress

The Hill says Senate GOP lawmakers rap the union organizing bill that is coming up next week. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

Coleman will also attend a hearing on gas markets. Bloomberg takes a look at a gas company that may have evaded regulators through loopholes.

Saddle shoes and seersucker, Norm?

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she's against impeachment.

She also talks issues with KSTP.

Her efforts on elder care also make an ABC News story.

DFL Rep. Keith Ellison has a forum on immigration reform.

A local Minnesota pastor is also getting more involved in the immigration issue.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz releases his earmarks.

The Farmington Post Office is renamed after GOP Rep. John Kline takes steps to do it.

Specialty crops may make their way into the farm bill. DFL Rep. Collin Peterson is mentioned.

The Des Moines Register says the farm bill is bringing some unease

There's some pushback on DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar's bill that would regulate ditches as waterways.

2008

A report says Arizona Senator John McCain could be out of the presidential race by September.

The Rothenberg Political Report says Coleman is vulnerable.

A DFL challenger to GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann is making his case.

2008 RNC
The Pi Press says war protesters are hoping for 100.000 at the convention.

Caucus date may be on the move!

Posted at 12:46 PM on June 25, 2007 by Tom Scheck

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie met with leaders of the DFL and GOP and are likely to hold the caucuses a month earlier than usual. The Pi Press and AP have stories.