SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - Advocacy groups are suing San Francisco, arguing its requirements for political speech violate the U.S. Constitution while causing voters to lose the message.
San Franciscans Supporting Prop B and the Asian Pacific Democratic Club PAC sponsored by Neighbors for a Better San Francisco filed suit in federal court on May 11 against the city and county, the San Francisco Ethics Commission, City Attorney David Chiu and District Attorney Chesa Boudin.
Political speakers must disclose their top three donors at the beginning of their messages, and if any of those donors are a committee, they must disclose that committee's top two donors as well. It does this despite having all donor disclosure information available on the internet, the suit says.
"Audio and video advertisements must begin with this information, distracting and driving away listeners before they even hear the speaker's messages," the lawsuit says.
"Contrary to the City's demands, however, the First Amendment leaves speakers the right to decide 'what to say and what to leave unsaid.'"
The suit seeks injunctive relief to stop the forced disclosure announcements on political messages, calling them "redundant and burdensome."