darin
04-26-2007, 12:06 PM
:)
Background: Liberals got their knickers in a wad over the FREE SPEECH of The Radio personalities who were speaking out against a later-approve $10 Gas Tax hike. In an effort to squash the voice of the opposition, in a truly Fascist act, the Pro-Tax-Me-More crowd sues the opposition saying the DJ's support of their side constituted 'income' which wasn't reported on the legal documents requiring full disclosure and junk, or whatever.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A unanimous state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that two radio talk show hosts who used airtime to support a gas-tax rollback initiative they launched were not required to report that as an in-kind political contribution.
The ruling overturns a 2005 Thurston County Superior Court ruling that opponents called a blow against free speech.
Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham ruled that talk show hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur at Seattle radio station KVI were key organizers and promoters of Initiative 912, a ballot measure aimed at heading off a four-step, 9.5-cent-a-gallon increase in the state gasoline tax.
The judge said the pair used their shows to launch the campaign, soliciting contributions and volunteers. He said the air time amounted to an in-kind contribution to the campaign and required that the value be reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Wilbur, Carlson and the station argued their role with the initiative was within the normal bounds of radio fare.
The high court agreed.
"The uncontroverted facts establish that the radio station involved here is a regular media entity that is not controlled by a candidate or political committee," the court, led by Justice Barbara Madsen wrote. "The radio station was exercising one of its core media functions in broadcasting Wilbur's and Carlson's talk shows."
Rest at link:
http://www.komotv.com/news/7203471.html
Background: Liberals got their knickers in a wad over the FREE SPEECH of The Radio personalities who were speaking out against a later-approve $10 Gas Tax hike. In an effort to squash the voice of the opposition, in a truly Fascist act, the Pro-Tax-Me-More crowd sues the opposition saying the DJ's support of their side constituted 'income' which wasn't reported on the legal documents requiring full disclosure and junk, or whatever.
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A unanimous state Supreme Court ruled Thursday that two radio talk show hosts who used airtime to support a gas-tax rollback initiative they launched were not required to report that as an in-kind political contribution.
The ruling overturns a 2005 Thurston County Superior Court ruling that opponents called a blow against free speech.
Superior Court Judge Chris Wickham ruled that talk show hosts John Carlson and Kirby Wilbur at Seattle radio station KVI were key organizers and promoters of Initiative 912, a ballot measure aimed at heading off a four-step, 9.5-cent-a-gallon increase in the state gasoline tax.
The judge said the pair used their shows to launch the campaign, soliciting contributions and volunteers. He said the air time amounted to an in-kind contribution to the campaign and required that the value be reported to the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Wilbur, Carlson and the station argued their role with the initiative was within the normal bounds of radio fare.
The high court agreed.
"The uncontroverted facts establish that the radio station involved here is a regular media entity that is not controlled by a candidate or political committee," the court, led by Justice Barbara Madsen wrote. "The radio station was exercising one of its core media functions in broadcasting Wilbur's and Carlson's talk shows."
Rest at link:
http://www.komotv.com/news/7203471.html