Republicans censoring what Democrats can send out...

[bloom]

I received this email today -

In the "Bloomington Beware" episode today - the show was about how Indiana
legislators
send out those brochures to tell you what is going on. Well, the
Republicans,
being in control have started censoring what the Democrats send out!
For
example if they say "The Republican plan will increase school fees".
First
thing is they can't refer to Republicans, so they have to say "The
proposed
plan" or "the majority plan" or something. Then instead of "Will
increase"
they change it to "might increase". They also would add "in my
opinion". So
the sentence becomes "In my opinion the proposed plan might increase
school
fees".

Now if that isn't bad enough, one Representative put a disclaimer on
his
brochure that said "Notice: this brochure has been modified and
approved by
the House Republicans" Naturally they removed the disclaimer
completely!

It gets worse every day!

[redqueen]

1. HOW is this legal?

:nuke:

[bloom]

5. It's like what they were doing to global warming info

so people wouldn't believe the truth of it.

I hope someone is suing.

[sui generis]

2. Say wuh?

why on earth do they get to approve partisan communications? Is it a bipartisan committee?

Too bad it just demonstrates that republicans are ashamed to own their own deeds. If they are so proud of what they are, then why would they insist on removing partisan references?

[fudge stripe cookays]

3. They should send them to a clearing house private e-mail box,

then send them out from there. This has got to be COMPLETELY illegal! Fight fire with fire for fuck's sakes!

FSC

[bloom]

4. It's someone I know who heard the show

and was just reporting what he heard...

[fudge stripe cookays]

10. Someone should call into Randi with this news...

Cockroaches have nowhere to hide when the light gets shined on em. Know what I mean?

:D
FSC

[Rich Hunt]

15. news

You should definitely alert the news about this.

[bloom]

6. From the Rep Matt Pierce Website:

http://www.in.gov/H61/

"House GOP censoring House Democrat newsletters, according to Rep. Pierce"

1-800-382-9842 or 1-317-232-9621 Fax Number: 1-317-232-9792 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 26, 2005 PIERCE: HOUSE GOP CENSORING HOUSE DEMOCRAT NEWSLETTERS INDIANAPOLIS –

If you live in an Indiana House district represented by a Democrat, it’s likely that any newsletters you receive have been heavily censored by Indiana House Republicans, according to State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington). “Not only have House Republicans censored newsletters sent out by myself and other House Democrats, they have forbidden me from including any disclosures in my legislative updates that explain the House Republican staff demands approval of the text in those publications before they can be mailed to the people I represent,” Pierce said. “This is nothing new,” the lawmaker added. “Throughout the 2005 session of the Indiana General Assembly, House Republicans heavily edited Democrat mailings to their constituents.

They were particularly sensitive about any kind of text explaining Republican cuts in education funding and how the new voter ID law will block many people from voting.” When told he could not send out a legislative update unless changes were made to satisfy House Republicans, Pierce reluctantly complied and added a disclosure to the front of his newsletter that read: NOTICE: House Republican leadership will not allow legislative newsletters to be sent without their approval of content. This newsletter’s text has been edited at the direction of House Republican staff.

“However, the Republicans have told me that I cannot mail my newsletter with that disclosure included,” Pierce said. “Apparently they want the right to censor newsletters that explain what the Legislature is really doing, as well as the right to keep the public from knowing that they are censors. They claim such a disclosure is not needed because their review process is working so well. “I’m not sure which is worse: the censoring of our newsletters or the House Republican efforts to hide what they are doing from the public,” he continued. In the future, Pierce said he will notify the public through the media of the censoring that House Republicans have demanded in his newsletter.

“It is important for people to know that the legislative updates they receive have gone through a Republican filter,” Pierce said.

[salin]

9. What can we do to turn this around? This is outrageous.

Seems that the only way to do anything about this would be to get it into the media. I have seen it in the HT (Bloomington) but nowhere else.

Who is the dem voice on the weekly public radio show "Inside Indiana Politics" - it is often a female. Anne Delaney? Show is carried by the indy station (wfyi). Small listenership - but it can get a small buzz going. Then lttes to newspapers could perhaps increase the buzz. Then what?

This is absurd - and an abuse of majority power.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

12. Unfortunately, the liberal left...

In the past on Inside Indiana Politics, one of the featured panelists was Managing Editor of the Indianapolis Business Journal, John Ketzenberger. Unfortunately, he crossed over to the "dark side" and now works for the evil Gannett (Indy Star). Don't count on them letting him speak out any longer, especially on topics favoring liberals. Hopefully Ann D. will stay on this...

[wli]

7. who expected anything less Goebbels-esque from the neocons?

[Jokerman]

8. What a CROCK OF SHIT!

Does anyone know if the local media has picked this up? I can't stomach TV news anymore.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

11. I just alerted I-Team 8 Investigators

I just sent the information and release to WISH-TV channel 8, asking why there has been no coverage in the MSM. Loni heads their I-Team 8 investigative team, and has been nice enough to follow up with me on two other issues in the past. Will let you know what I hear from them.
Thanks for posting it!

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

13. Just heard from WISH TV...

Loni said the I-Team was going to look into this issue. Apparently, they never got the press release that the representative said he sent out to the media. May be time to update his contact list and add names of real people, not just a general delivery address. Will let you know if I hear anything further.

[salin]

14. Great deal!

Do let us know if/when you hear anything. If any tv news is likely to give airtime to this, it would be channel eight. They seem the most "nonpartisan"/follow the story of the local news groups.

[fudge stripe cookays]

16. I e-mailed Randi and let her know...

If anybody can bring this to light and get hundreds of pissed off people on it, she can!

FSC

[Voltaire]

17. WHEN IN BLOODY HELL WILL . . .

Democratic....yeah I said DEMOCRATIC politicians at every political level...from dogcatcher to Minority Leader in the Senate understand that you cannot...you cannot ever ever ever EVER...FUCKING EVER give in to Republicans. For any reason. NEVER. If Brian Bosma and his fucking henchmen tried to edit my material, he could come down to my office and get his fucking ass handed to him after I pound his goddamned head on the desk to stamp the envelopes the stuff goes out in. I am so goddamned fucking sick of the Republican Party I do not know what to do with myself.

[SpeedwayDemocrat]

18. Needed: A complete turnover of IN Dem Leadership

Until the state and Marion County Dem parties get off their lazy asses and begin supporting the township clubs and those candidates who want to speak out against the Repubs, we're doomed. Hey, leaders - what have you done since the last election? Not a damned thing!