Cancel 2018. 3
<-- sched 2, MJ sched 1
Supreme Court skeptical on keeping Ref. 71 petition names secret: Democracy takes 'civic courage'
WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday sharply questioned the argument that Washington voters who signed a petition to overturn the state's gay-rights law were entitled to remain anonymous.
Rather than dwelling on whether signing a petition is political speech protected under the First Amendment — as argued by conservative groups who filed the case — the justices repeatedly honed in on the wider implications of exempting any referendum or initiative petition from public disclosure.
"Running a democracy takes a certain amount of civic courage," said Justice Antonin Scalia, who also called the arguments to keep the names private "touchy-feely."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011723164_scotus29.html
looks like my views on the matter are in the minority on the bench...
if votes are private, how is this not private? it is part of the same process...the only reason why proponents (which btw i am a proponent of gay marriage) want this published is for intimidation and possible harrassment.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday sharply questioned the argument that Washington voters who signed a petition to overturn the state's gay-rights law were entitled to remain anonymous.
Rather than dwelling on whether signing a petition is political speech protected under the First Amendment — as argued by conservative groups who filed the case — the justices repeatedly honed in on the wider implications of exempting any referendum or initiative petition from public disclosure.
"Running a democracy takes a certain amount of civic courage," said Justice Antonin Scalia, who also called the arguments to keep the names private "touchy-feely."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011723164_scotus29.html
looks like my views on the matter are in the minority on the bench...
if votes are private, how is this not private? it is part of the same process...the only reason why proponents (which btw i am a proponent of gay marriage) want this published is for intimidation and possible harrassment.