if you think policing for profit is a bad idea in ordinary law enforcement, imagine what it can do to free speech. that<u+2019>s the experiment headed for the ballot in washington, where an initiative would put the state<u+2019>s speech police on a commission, allowing campaign regulators to keep a percentage of fines they collect. under ballot measure 1464, the washington state public disclosure commission would be eligible to receive half of the civil penalties it assesses for state campaign-finance violations. the agency would also get a 50% cut of awards from cases it refers to the state attorney general. putting any enforcement agency on a commission is dangerous, but especially one that regulates political speech. this would give regulators a financial stake in going after as many potential petty violations as possible in hopes the percentages will pay off in the department<u+2019>s budget. this is part of the initiative<u+2019>s broader plan to tighten speech regulations, including a presumption of coordination that would force citizens to rebut the suggestion that their independent expenditures were coordinated with a candidate. according to the ballot measure, <u+201c>[a]n expenditure in support of a candidate or opposing a candidate<u+2019>s opponent . . . is presumed to be made in coordination with that candidate or the candidate<u+2019>s agent<u+201d> if, for instance, a candidate and the person making the expenditure attended a meeting together as much as two years before the expenditure was made. the plan would also make it easier for private citizens<u+2014>i.e., activists financed by the likes of george soros <u+2014>to take people to court for campaign-finance violations and let them collect attorneys<u+2019> fees. the law would also give voters vouchers worth up to $50 to donate to state legislative candidates. yes, taxpayer subsidies for politicians. the washington measure is part of the national progressive effort to limit speech using campaign-finance law. elizabeth warren wants the feds to impose new rules, and hillary clinton wants to rewrite the first amendment. now is the time for voters to object, while they still can.
speech regulators on retainer - wsj
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