tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post5145932796947254945..comments2024-03-11T03:46:17.567-05:00Comments on The Wheel: Extending the Reach of Richardson's Gag OrderMark Stegerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2498525082522582900.post-79732102188691572822021-04-01T15:14:02.176-05:002021-04-01T15:14:02.176-05:00Prohibiting council members from making "any ...Prohibiting council members from making "any statements on social media regarding any individual, entity or issue which is reasonably likely to be considered" is unenforceable on 1st Amendment grounds. Likewise unenforceable is the prohibition in the Code of Ethics against disclosing "any information from a meeting closed to the public pursuant to the Texas Open Meetings Act or other law regardless of whether disclosure violates the Texas Open Meetings Act or Texas Public Information Act." Properly worded rules should be drawn as narrowly as possible to avoid stepping on freedom of speech rights, and both of these are overly broad. <br />The right way forward is repeal. We can consider repeal and replace, but I don't think the citizens lose anything if both offending gag orders are not replaced.Mark Stegerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02376182294736839659noreply@blogger.com