Council has part to play in overturning Citizens United

[raider.adam]

Council has part to play in overturning Citizens United

"But, as two years' experience with the fallout from the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision have demonstrated, nearly every issue we face as a city, state and nation — and the increasing difficulty for elected officials to take action — can be traced in part to the influence of big money in the electoral process."

One of the most ridiculous statements I have read. Also a ridiculous position that a City Council resolution means anything, as well as a meaningless ballot questions.

My eye is actually twitching after reading this.

[FKD19124]

There should be a massive recall vote for all of city council.

Council has part to play in overturning Citizens United


One of the most ridiculous statements I have read. Also a ridiculous position that a City Council resolution means anything, as well as a meaningless ballot questions.

My eye is actually twitching after reading this.

[seand]

Something should be done - by Congress - to force full disclosure in terms of who is giving to which PAC or "issue" group. This ballot question does literally absolutely nothing to make that more likely to happen. I will probably vote for it, anyway, knowing full well its as meaningful as poll on philly.com and sort of a waste of City Council's time at best, an intentional distraction at worst.

Even though I typically intentionally vote against these stupid ballot questions on principal. Its that pathetic Congress hasn't passed something on this.

[ArcticSplash]

I was in Room 400 when this resolution was put to the floor for first reading. The room erupted in applause.

Everyone knows it's a letter to be thrown in the trash, but I guess it's the thought that counts.

[BarryG]

Stupid but harmless. Cities pass these kinds of things all time.

[Dave]

I was in Room 400 when this resolution was put to the floor for first reading. The room erupted in applause.

Everyone knows it's a letter to be thrown in the trash, but I guess it's the thought that counts.

I suppose any other reaction would be similar to booing somebody who just hugged a puppy.

[raider.adam]

But they get positive press for it. The paper should have opined "why is this even being discussed in Council chambers?"

[Dave]

But they get positive press for it. The paper should have opined "why is this even being discussed in Council chambers?"

This type of grandstanding will matter much less if council continues to step up and actually address local issues. They've started to show a glimmer of a spark on AVI and school district funding, but have a long way to go.

[ArcticSplash]

But they get positive press for it. The paper should have opined "why is this even being discussed in Council chambers?"

It wasn't even discussed. MQS simply handed over the bill and the clerk called the title out. There isn't going to be much in the way of brian synapses expended when Council passes it tomorrow. I guess if you want to get your feathers ruffled in the City hours expended in tapping out that resolution in a word processor, printing it out on a laser printer, and then binding it with a robin's egg blue bill cover...

Citizens was a Supreme Court decision. It's not like the Roberts court isn't aware that the decision is wildly unpopular with liberals and libertarians (and those with libertarian sympathies).

[raider.adam]

It wasn't even discussed. MQS simply handed over the bill and the clerk called the title out. There isn't going to be much in the way of brian synapses expended when Council passes it tomorrow. I guess if you want to get your feathers ruffled in the City hours expended in tapping out that resolution in a word processor, printing it out on a laser printer, and then binding it with a robin's egg blue bill cover...

There are two scenarios. Scenario one is that they spent no time discussion an amendment to the City Charter or scenario two is they spent time on discussion of a resolution that means nothing. Neither scenario is flattering.

Citizens was a Supreme Court decision. It's not like the Roberts court isn't aware that the decision is wildly unpopular with liberals and libertarians (and those with libertarian sympathies).

No. Libertarians are pretty much ok with the Citizens United ruling.

[Naveen]

Citizens was a Supreme Court decision. It's not like the Roberts court isn't aware that the decision is wildly unpopular with liberals and libertarians (and those with libertarian sympathies).

Yeah, as Adam said, libertarians are in favor of Citizens.

As I say, libertarians live in the world of the theoretical, rarely the actual. (My "favorite" is still Rand Paul explaining how the Civil Rights Act was unnecessary...Moron.)

As to our city esteemed council: legislative bodies always do these kinds of symbolic/pointless acts. It's just politics. Like the U.S. House GOP members voting to repeal "job-killing Obamacare". I mean, what's the point when you have 5 Supreme Court members in your partisan camp? No need for the House to legislate when it's done from the bench. But I digress.

[loveisnoise]

Stupid but harmless. Cities pass these kinds of things all time.

Not harmless. I'm told that a total of 28 city council employees were involved with this bs legalese. Hours of attorney, assistant, and council money that could have been suited for better. These resolutions that sometimes take a whole day in city council are worthless and real work goes by. What nonsense. I guess city council will start passing constitutional amendments for the f of it. Oh wait- they do pull that nonsense.