There is some explaining to do. Words can't describe how terrible this is. The AJC reports that as of 7-1 in Ga. political mudslinging went anonymous.
James Salzer reports in the AJC:
Politicians and special-interest groups don't have to tell you that they're the ones filling your mailbox with campaign propaganda this election season.
Under little-noticed legislation passed on the final day of the 2008 session and signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue, candidates and "independent" groups backing candidates no longer have to disclose who they are on their mailings.
The law that took effect July 1 lets candidates for state and local offices, and groups trying to influence races, send out attack brochures with relative impunity.
The lawmaker who pushed the change says anonymous speech is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
"I believe those in office and those running for office should not be afraid of an anonymous attack," said state Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), who worked to amend House Bill 1112 to wipe out the disclosure provision.
Lawmakers, campaign watchdog groups and political consultants contacted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the disclosure change in HB 1112 said they hadn't heard of it. The bill passed the Senate 50-1 and the House 143-1.
House Bill 1112 was an otherwise routine piece of legislation from Secretary of State Karen Handel's office that clarified and simplified the election code. Such measures are typically called agency "cleanup" bills because they tweak language in existing laws but generally don't make major policy.
But by the time HB 1112 passed the Senate in the final week of the session, it wiped out a part of state law that says mailings must bear the name and address of the person or organization distributing the material.
Disclosures on campaign mailings are required in federal races.
Independent groups supporting or opposing candidates often spend big money on campaigns.
Politicians and special-interest groups don't have to tell you that they're the ones filling your mailbox with campaign propaganda this election season.
Under little-noticed legislation passed on the final day of the 2008 session and signed into law by Gov. Sonny Perdue, candidates and "independent" groups backing candidates no longer have to disclose who they are on their mailings.
The law that took effect July 1 lets candidates for state and local offices, and groups trying to influence races, send out attack brochures with relative impunity.
The lawmaker who pushed the change says anonymous speech is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
"I believe those in office and those running for office should not be afraid of an anonymous attack," said state Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), who worked to amend House Bill 1112 to wipe out the disclosure provision.
Lawmakers, campaign watchdog groups and political consultants contacted by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution about the disclosure change in HB 1112 said they hadn't heard of it. The bill passed the Senate 50-1 and the House 143-1.
House Bill 1112 was an otherwise routine piece of legislation from Secretary of State Karen Handel's office that clarified and simplified the election code. Such measures are typically called agency "cleanup" bills because they tweak language in existing laws but generally don't make major policy.
But by the time HB 1112 passed the Senate in the final week of the session, it wiped out a part of state law that says mailings must bear the name and address of the person or organization distributing the material.
Disclosures on campaign mailings are required in federal races.
Independent groups supporting or opposing candidates often spend big money on campaigns.
posted by Sid Cottingham | 2:47 PM
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