Arnebeck wins case against PAC in Ohio

[ChicanoPwr]

Alliance Victory in U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals
Article published Thursday, January 6, 2005
http://www.thealliancefordemocracy.org/html/eng/2246-AA.shtml

Court says Chamber's election arm is PAC
Citizens for Strong Ohio aired ads attacking state Supreme Court justice in 2000 election

BLADE COLUMBUS BUREAU

COLUMBUS - The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has apparently decided a nonprofit arm of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce that aired TV ads attacking an Ohio Supreme Court justice in 2000 is a "political action committee."
The three-judge panel's statement surprised William Todd, the chamber's attorney, since the court was not asked that question. He characterized the statement in an opinion issued Monday as "wrong."

Under Ohio law, PACs must disclose where they get their money. Citizens for a Strong Ohio has refused to reveal what corporations bankrolled ads targeting Justice Alice Robie Resnick, an Ottawa Hills Democrat. The chamber had asked the federal court to clarify, for its future plans, at what point issue advocacy crosses the line into election advocacy.

The Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit determined it did not have jurisdiction while the dispute was still part of an ongoing state proceeding. But in doing so, Judge R. Guy Cole, Jr., described Strong Ohio as a PAC "that sponsors a broad range of political activities."

"It's the court applying common sense and drawing obvious conclusions from the facts before it," said Cliff Arnebeck, attorney for Alliance for Democracy, the organization that filed the initial complaint against Strong Ohio before the Ohio Elections Commission.

[Bill Bored]

1. Great so what's the remedy? Will it be appealed? n/t

[Liberty Belle]

2. Hmm. Do you supposed the Ohio court has developed

a shred of conscience? WE can only hope....

[Coexist]

3. The election is sealed... on to being rational again

:eyes:

[Last Lemming]

4. Chess move

check to the Ohio Supreme court