Wed 4 Mar 2009
Get rid of outdated notice publishing law for businesses that props up newspapers
Posted by Chewie Shofir under Government , Legislation , Media , State Budget , State Government[6] Comments
There is a silly legal requirement that articles of incorporation and LLC formation documents be published in a newspaper that nobody reads. These laws do nothing but prop up the print media, and Rep. Andy Biggs has a bill that would rid us of this windfall for newspapers.
There are similar archaic requirements for governments notices, but HB 2253 would allow governments to publish certain things online in lieu of print publication. It is eminently sensible, nobody reads these silly small point notices that litter the back pages of newspapers, and this would save cities a lot of money.
But in addition to being good policy it is great politics as it would allow Republicans to inflict significant damage on our political enemies in the print media. And now is the perfect time to push this–with everyone in a budget crunch, saving money is even more attractive than at other times.
Incredibly, our REPUBLICAN Legislature seems to be allowing this rare opportunity to slip through its fingers–the bill failed House Government on a 4 to 5 vote. Now the bill’s sponsor has apparently capitulated to he Arizona Republic and the other forces of darkness–the bill has been amended to have a worthless study committee report back in nearly three years.
Democrats recognize their political enemies, engage them, and do everything they can to undermine them. Republicans lack this killer instinct.
March 4th, 2009 at 9:23 am
How many “newspapers of record” are in communities where that is their only source of information regarding what their locally elected representative is doing in Phoenix?
And, how many representatives simple provide *news releases* and easy *interviews* to these “newspapers of record” (who don’t have the means or staff to really report what these folks are doing in the legislature)?
Its pretty easy to see why they don’t want to bite the hand that keeps them in office.
On the other hand, you have the Arizona Star with its legislative favorites as too, the Arizona Republic with their favorites.
Again, can’t bite the hand that feeds you.
March 4th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Ya, because giving more power and duties to the Government ALWAYS works out real great. I can only picture now that line of beuracrats it would take to manage a system like that.
Papers do it cheap and it should stay that way.
March 4th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
Methinks Roger knows not what he’s talking about. I work in the telecommunications industry – specifically web site development – and KNOW it would not take nearly the amount of work he thinks it would.
March 5th, 2009 at 9:42 am
Right to my point methinks. It’s easy enough for one person to do but leave it to the government and an entire team of state workers would be brought in to manage it.
March 5th, 2009 at 11:17 am
[...] Sonoran Alliance had a piece about HB 2253, which would eliminate the requirement that government notices be printed in newspapers. They, like the author of the bill, Andy Biggs, start by claiming that this is about saving state agencies money. But, they move into territory which helps to confirm my worries about the motives behind this bill: But in addition to being good policy it is great politics as it would allow Republicans to inflict significant damage on our political enemies in the print media. And now is the perfect time to push this–with everyone in a budget crunch, saving money is even more attractive than at other times. [...]
March 5th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I do wonder why most other states don’t have such a requirement, since according to the so-called experts this is critical for public information. I often talk to my business contacts across the country, and they’re simply flabbergasted – “what! You need to publish your articles of incorporation WHERE?”