The office of California State Senator Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) let us know that the politician has been honored by the First Amendment Coalition (FAC) with its Beacon Award.
The award recognizes Yee’s “legislation in support of government transparency and the rights of student journalists and their advisers.”
The original author of California’s videogame law, which is still sitting in appeal before the United States Supreme Court, said about the award:
There is little that I take greater pride in than our legislative efforts to increase transparency of government and protect the speech rights of California students. With the help of the First Amendment Coalition, we have passed landmark open government laws. Unfortunately, at times, we have also fallen victim to the Governor's veto pen.
Yee was one of four Beacon Award winners. Full details can be viewed here.
Comments
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
FAC him
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
I hate to get sidetracked but...what exactly IS the status of EMA v Schwartzenegger? I'm kind of confused about how that all left off. Seemed like there was no decision at all from the Supreme Court about what to do about the case. Has there been any update?
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
No update yet on EMA vs. Schwarzenegger. SCOTUS still hasn't made a decision one way or other.
According to JDKJ, it is being speculated by Yee's camp that SCOTUS is waiting until they issue their ruling on the U.S. v. Stevens case(which has similiarities to EMA v. Schwarzenegger) that they heard oral arguments on earlier this month(which won't be for at least another couple of months) before making their decision on whether to grant or deny cert on their appeal.
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Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate that Yee is pretty rational and respectful in the way he tackles his agenda regarding gaming, but...
Giving a First Amendment-related reward to somebody who is actively involved in trying to get the government to restrict media based on its content? I know that's not why they're giving him the award, but it should still count against him, I would think. There must have been somebody else on their list of candidates with a less controversial relationship with the First Amendment.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Jesus Christ what is the FAC run by retards
Never underestimate the power of idiots in large amounts.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Uhmm what the hell is this? I'm having a VERY hard time comprehending how this prick is getting an award for something that has the "First Amendment" in the title.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
This is a joke, ri-, oh god damn it!!
How the hell did Yee won this award when he's been trying to bend the first amendment??!! I don't get it, could somebody send a letter to those group revealing what Yee did.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Yee deserves Jack.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
This makes as much sense as Jack getting a "freedom" award or even less sense Obama getting the Nobel Prize.
I take it that actively campaigning to stifle a creative medium and individual choice in favor of a nanny state constitutes upholding the first amendment?
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Douchebag gets award from other douchebags that have no clue what they are talking about ... yep that sounds about right for america.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
For what it's worth, FAC leans more heavily towards "free press" concerns than it does those of "free speech." Despite Yee's spin, his legislation doesn't address the rights of student speech as much as it addresses the rights of student press. It's a subtle but important difference between "free speech" and "free press."
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Ah, so they are an instutional freedom rather then an individual freedom group?
That would make their choice of Yee more self consistant at least.
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
So to Leland if your over 18 your First Amendment rights are valid but if your under 18 you should have no First Amendment rights at all and the nanny-state can decide what you can or can't watch, play, read or listen to. Pretty damn Arbitrary isn't it.
"No law means no law" - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on the First Amendment
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Erm... minors have fewer rights than adults. That's why they're called minors. Even guardians and parents have the legal right to determine what their children can watch, play, or read - is that, then, stifling of the first amendment?
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
The First Amendment doesn't apply to parents, only to the government so when the government does it, Yes, they are violating their constitutional rights. The nanny-state has no business deciding for anybody whether minors or adults what they can or can't watch, play, read or listen to.
A parent can decide what their child may or may not be exposed to BUT it is THEIR sole responsibilty to make sure THEIR kid isn't exposed to media that THEY find offensive or unsuitable for them. Period.
Maybe you should go read up about the First Amendment as you seem to have no clue about what it entails or why. There is plenty of court precedent stating that minors have significant First Amendment rights and only in very minor circumstances such as "speech that is obscene to minors" (which is a variation of obscenity laws) or places like Public Schools can government restrict or censor their Free Speech rights differently from adults.
"No law means no law" - Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black on the First Amendment
Re: Senator Yee Honored with FAC Award
Facetious Amoral Coward?
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