Post by bot on Dec 29, 2010 22:26:08 GMT -5
"Truth serum" Is a psychoactive drug that can be used therapeutically to learn vital information for a functional respite from catatonia or mania.
Why talk about truth serum?Because we now have our own form of it in Ohio to deal with the unprecedented "Citizens United" U.S. Supreme Court decision.
This year's mid-term elections saw a listless Democratic base and more money mania than I have witnessed in decades. Corporations gained the status of flesh-and-blood persons and made independent expenditures for and against candidates in state and federal campaigns.
This fall it was like living in the "Wild, Wild West" of campaign advertising. But, one good thing about looking to the "West" is seeing the sun set on the horizon.
As I leave my office at the end of next week, I am pleased to share with you that permanent rules we offered to address the "Citizens United" case in Ohio were approved by the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule last week. They will take effect before I leave office to be in place for future elections.
Here's how these new rules will empower Ohioans:
We'll be able to know that a campaign ad has been paid for by a corporation, nonprofit corporation or labor organization, how much has been spent and whom they paid for the ad for or against a candidate or committee. They'll have to disclose it.
We'll know in a campaign ad, itself, that it has not been authorized by a candidate or committee, and we can go to the website of the corporation, nonprofit corporation or labor organization to learn more about who is issuing the message. It must be in the ad, or a media outlet can't run it.
We'll be assured that corporations and businesses owned 20% or more by foreign citizens are not trying to influence Ohio elections, because under the rules, they can't.
We'll be assured that corporations, individuals and businesses that have been awarded state or federal money through our state within the last year, are not influencing Ohio elections with independent expenditures, because they can't.
We'll have teeth in the law to go after corporations, nonprofit corporations and labor organizations and the candidates and committees they support who break the rules and coordinate their efforts.
Even though we can't change Citizens United in Ohio, we can apply "truth serum" to make sure citizens' voices remain strong despite its effects.
We have more tools available for us to speak and fight for what we believe in as citizens in the most unique democracy in the world. We can read and learn-and we can advocate.
A new year dawns, and Ohio needs you. I hope you'll stay involved. I'm wishing you the best in the new year ahead.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Brunner
Ohio Secretary of State
Why talk about truth serum?Because we now have our own form of it in Ohio to deal with the unprecedented "Citizens United" U.S. Supreme Court decision.
This year's mid-term elections saw a listless Democratic base and more money mania than I have witnessed in decades. Corporations gained the status of flesh-and-blood persons and made independent expenditures for and against candidates in state and federal campaigns.
This fall it was like living in the "Wild, Wild West" of campaign advertising. But, one good thing about looking to the "West" is seeing the sun set on the horizon.
As I leave my office at the end of next week, I am pleased to share with you that permanent rules we offered to address the "Citizens United" case in Ohio were approved by the Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule last week. They will take effect before I leave office to be in place for future elections.
Here's how these new rules will empower Ohioans:
We'll be able to know that a campaign ad has been paid for by a corporation, nonprofit corporation or labor organization, how much has been spent and whom they paid for the ad for or against a candidate or committee. They'll have to disclose it.
We'll know in a campaign ad, itself, that it has not been authorized by a candidate or committee, and we can go to the website of the corporation, nonprofit corporation or labor organization to learn more about who is issuing the message. It must be in the ad, or a media outlet can't run it.
We'll be assured that corporations and businesses owned 20% or more by foreign citizens are not trying to influence Ohio elections, because under the rules, they can't.
We'll be assured that corporations, individuals and businesses that have been awarded state or federal money through our state within the last year, are not influencing Ohio elections with independent expenditures, because they can't.
We'll have teeth in the law to go after corporations, nonprofit corporations and labor organizations and the candidates and committees they support who break the rules and coordinate their efforts.
Even though we can't change Citizens United in Ohio, we can apply "truth serum" to make sure citizens' voices remain strong despite its effects.
We have more tools available for us to speak and fight for what we believe in as citizens in the most unique democracy in the world. We can read and learn-and we can advocate.
A new year dawns, and Ohio needs you. I hope you'll stay involved. I'm wishing you the best in the new year ahead.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Brunner
Ohio Secretary of State