[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: Equal Time

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
Equal Time
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1226109154.shtml


   There are times when I think I dost gush too much regarding District
   281, or at least not give its critics enough time. But [1]Chad the
   Elder is on the job, picking up the Sun Newspaper account of
   referendum campaign spending, tens of thousands for YES, a few hundred
   for NO.
   The number one contributor? The Robbinsdale Federation of Teachers,
   who donated $ 7,500 plus all the hours of in-kind donations. It's just
   like at the Legislature, when Education Minnesota's delegation
   outnumbers the Minnesota Taxpayers League by about 50 to 1. This is a
   problem, a definite conflict of interest, but the cures are probably
   all worse than the disease. I'd rather have free speech and full
   disclosure.
   The school districts should be equally committed to free speech and
   not sue parents groups like the Osseo district recently did. That case
   was dismissed in court last week, but that group had the resources to
   fight it. Robbinsdale has reminded its citizens that it can sue
   someone making "false" statements against a referendum, actionable per
   a state law. For someone with few resources, that amounts to a threat,
   even though I'd have to think an honest court would easily find that
   law unconstitutional. Besides, the district itself might have to
   explain a false statement of its own.

References

   1. http://www.fraterslibertas.com/2008/11/everyone-benefits.html