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Repression By The Majority: Republicans Censor Newsletter of N Y State Senator, Liz Kreuger Of Manhattan - RI8
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posted Thursday, 16 March 2006
Repression By The Majority:
Republicans Censor Newsletter
of N Y State Senator, Liz Kreuger
Of Manhattan - RI8
Senator complains of Republican censorship
BY MELISSA MANSFIELD
STAFF WRITER
March 16, 2006
ALBANY - Being in the minority is rarely easy.
Liz Krueger, a Democratic state senator from Manhattan, complained yesterday that Republicans get to censor her newsletters to constituents. Pointing to Sunshine Week, a national initiative to show the importance of open government and freedom of information, the Senate Minority says they want to communicate with their constituencies without the Senate Majority's editing process.
"They might not like what I have to say," Krueger said, pointing to her September 2005 newsletter, "but they do not have the right to tell me, basically, that I have to take out a good 30 percent of what I wrote in that newsletter."
Krueger's newsletter was returned with alterations. She fought the changes, and ultimately it was sent with fewer edits. Her final version omitted the phrase "years of avoidance," when discussing the Senate's emergency contraception voting, and the word "perverse" when describing "an incentive for the legislature to induce a late budget." In a photograph caption, efforts to “clean up Albany” were transformed into "reform" for the constituents.
"Democracy is supposed to be an open flow of information and the opportunity to take positions," she said. "What we have here in the New York State Senate is censorship and unequal standards."
The Senate Majority disagrees. "Senate rules and guidelines regarding the content of mailings and Web sites are applied uniformly to all 62 senators," said John McArdle, communications director. Senators are not to use mailings for electioneering or personal attacks.
Minority senators say they are denied the same access to mailings, and note that they cannot use the words "Democrat" or "Republican" in their publications. Krueger found mailings from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) that broke the rules, such as the use of his "Republican" conference title. Bruno mailings also included the names of private businesses and Web sites, which members of the minority have been banned from using.
Rachel Leon, executive director of government group Common Cause, said she was not shocked by Krueger's complaint, noting there were "huge disparities" in both houses over resource allocation between the majority and minority.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stnews164663978mar16,0,2700858.story
This is just one more instance of how the Republican Party uses its power to suppress Free Speech whenever it can. Republicans are against Free Speech. Republicans are against One Man, One Vote. The Republicans are against Democracy. The Republicans will not tolerate Criticism. This is the Party that runs our government. And you think I am overstating the case when I say that George W. Bush is a Nazi? You may not like hearing that the Republicans in charge are liars, murderers, unconscionable greedy bastards and uncompassionate Nazis, but that is the truth. You can spin it and say they are overexuberant, but that would be an out-and-out lie. If you think I exaggerate, read:
Cognitive Dissonance: Mental Disorder Afflicts Bush Supporters, Who Cannot Face The Truth
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/cognitive_dissonance_guilt_myopia__psychology_of_being_in_th.htm
Published August 16, 2005
T.A.B.A.C.C.O. (Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization)
Republicans Censor Newsletter
of N Y State Senator, Liz Kreuger
Of Manhattan - RI8
Senator complains of Republican censorship
BY MELISSA MANSFIELD
STAFF WRITER
March 16, 2006
ALBANY - Being in the minority is rarely easy.
Liz Krueger, a Democratic state senator from Manhattan, complained yesterday that Republicans get to censor her newsletters to constituents. Pointing to Sunshine Week, a national initiative to show the importance of open government and freedom of information, the Senate Minority says they want to communicate with their constituencies without the Senate Majority's editing process.
"They might not like what I have to say," Krueger said, pointing to her September 2005 newsletter, "but they do not have the right to tell me, basically, that I have to take out a good 30 percent of what I wrote in that newsletter."
Krueger's newsletter was returned with alterations. She fought the changes, and ultimately it was sent with fewer edits. Her final version omitted the phrase "years of avoidance," when discussing the Senate's emergency contraception voting, and the word "perverse" when describing "an incentive for the legislature to induce a late budget." In a photograph caption, efforts to “clean up Albany” were transformed into "reform" for the constituents.
"Democracy is supposed to be an open flow of information and the opportunity to take positions," she said. "What we have here in the New York State Senate is censorship and unequal standards."
The Senate Majority disagrees. "Senate rules and guidelines regarding the content of mailings and Web sites are applied uniformly to all 62 senators," said John McArdle, communications director. Senators are not to use mailings for electioneering or personal attacks.
Minority senators say they are denied the same access to mailings, and note that they cannot use the words "Democrat" or "Republican" in their publications. Krueger found mailings from Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (R-Brunswick) that broke the rules, such as the use of his "Republican" conference title. Bruno mailings also included the names of private businesses and Web sites, which members of the minority have been banned from using.
Rachel Leon, executive director of government group Common Cause, said she was not shocked by Krueger's complaint, noting there were "huge disparities" in both houses over resource allocation between the majority and minority.
Copyright 2006 Newsday Inc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/state/ny-stnews164663978mar16,0,2700858.story
This is just one more instance of how the Republican Party uses its power to suppress Free Speech whenever it can. Republicans are against Free Speech. Republicans are against One Man, One Vote. The Republicans are against Democracy. The Republicans will not tolerate Criticism. This is the Party that runs our government. And you think I am overstating the case when I say that George W. Bush is a Nazi? You may not like hearing that the Republicans in charge are liars, murderers, unconscionable greedy bastards and uncompassionate Nazis, but that is the truth. You can spin it and say they are overexuberant, but that would be an out-and-out lie. If you think I exaggerate, read:
Cognitive Dissonance: Mental Disorder Afflicts Bush Supporters, Who Cannot Face The Truth
http://tabacco.blog-city.com/cognitive_dissonance_guilt_myopia__psychology_of_being_in_th.htm
Published August 16, 2005
T.A.B.A.C.C.O. (Truth About Business And Congressional Crimes Organization)
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