Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I'm guessing the dean is not favorably disposed toward unlimited corporate political speech

via the Advertiser -
The legal issues surrounding the sale of The Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin will be among the topics discussed [today] at the Rotary Club of Honolulu luncheon meeting.

Aviam Soifer, dean and professor at the University of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, will talk about issues that might affect the planned sales of Hawaii's two dailies, as well as views on the Supreme Court's recent decision allowing corporations to make unlimited campaign contributions.

Soiefer, who is said to be normally reserved when it comes to voicing opinions on public policy and politics, plans to speak candidly about issues that have the potential to negatively impact freedom of speech and political processes at the local, state and national levels.
(The report needs a little clarification: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. ___ (2010) didn't address direct corporate campaign contributions to candidates but instead held that corporate funding of independent political broadcasts in candidate elections cannot be limited under the First Amendment).

2 comments:

John Powell said...

It might be interesting to hear how lifting restrictions on speech "negatively impact freedom of speech."

charley foster said...

I agree, John.