‘Speech police’ remain in campaign laws

Monday, June 2, 2003 | 9:55 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A law that allows the state Ethics Commission to decide if a political candidate has lied about his opponent will remain intact.

The Senate and the Assembly Sunday adopted a conference report on Senate Bill 147 and sent it to Gov. Kenny Guinn.

The Assembly, joined by the American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups, had sought to eliminate the law that has been nicknamed the "Speech Police." The ethics commission has been called "The Truth Squad."

Opponents of the law argued it is a violation of free speech.

The Senate, led by Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, wanted to retain the law, arguing that a candidate has nowhere to go if an opponent makes false statements. Supporters said a candidate could file suit but that takes years to decide and the damage is already done in the political campaign.

In moving for the adoption of the conference report, Assemblyman Bernie Anderson, D-Sparks, said, "Unfortunately it is left in the bill."

The final version of SB147 states only that political candidates and public officers will file their financial disclosure statements with the secretary of state's office, rather than the Ethics Commission. And it says that those public officials who raise less than $6,000 do not have to file a financial disclosure report on the new date of Jan. 15.