Paying for Free Speech

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Conspirator for: 17 years 25 weeks
Posted on: April 20, 2010 - 5:13pm

 

The Fort Worth Weekly reports that Texas rancher Billy Mitchell has been fined for purchasing billboards and newspaper advertisements critical of Governor Rick Perry.  Mr. Martin was under the mistaken impression that, as an American citizen, he has the right to speak his mind about the issues that concern him, such as eminent domain and Gov. Perry’s abuse of it. 

 

“I wasn’t aware you had to fill out a form to exercise your freedom of speech,” Mitchell said. “It’s not what they taught us at Aledo High School in government class. They said freedom of speech is unrestricted.”

 

Evidently the curriculum at Aledo High needs to be updated.  The Texas Ethics Commission, the state department tasked with enforcing election laws and promoting public confidence in “ethical government” [sic], has fined Mr. Mitchell $1,300 for the crime of registering as a one-man political action committee eight days late.  In the state of Texas, failure to submit a PAC form on time can result in a $500 fine, plus $100 a day after that, up to $10,000. 

 

Mr. Mitchell persists in his error and refuses to pay the fine.  He sent a letter to the Texas Ethics Commission explaining, “I was not endorsing any candidate.  I was not coordinated with any candidate’s campaign. I was just expressing my thought using the guaranteed freedom of speech under the First Amendment.” He also demanded that either the fine be dismissed or that he be given a trial by a jury of his peers (something he also claims is guaranteed him by the Bill of Rights).

 

“I’m one person. I asked what happened to my freedom of speech. He [the ethics commission attorney] said I didn’t fill out the right paperwork to get my freedom of speech.”

 

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- Stephen M. Smith