Thursday, January 07, 2010

What is a "Straw Law?" a story you should save for educational purposes.

Luckily I get the actual printed version of the Illinois State Journal Register. I had to do a search to find this story online, even though it was in today's paper. Hmmm...

There's a story about how lobby reform legislation is being cut down by judge in Chicago who ruled it unconstitutional. It's important because it demonstrates what I like to call a "Straw Law."

Basically it's legislation that gets almost unanimous popular support, that works against organizations which are the backbone of political campaign financing. In classic textbook fashion, a quiet little rule is tacked on that will sabotage the law, but only long after the law is passed, when nobody is looking. A lawsuits against it will later be filed, and a judge can easily rule it unconstitutional.

Here now is the glaring example of such a "Straw Law:"

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x1689193760/White-puts-lobbyist-registrations-on-hold

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