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We now know how much we have to pay the other side, but I wonder how much the state spent defending this thing?
A federal judge has ruled that state government owes more than $500,000 to the video-game industry for legal fees it incurred in successfully battling an Illinois law meant to keep minors away from violent or sexually explicit video games.The Entertainment Software Association, Video Software Dealers Association and Illinois Retail Merchants Association went to court last year to block enforcement of the Safe Games Illinois Act. The groups argued the law was unconstitutional.
The measure, which Gov. Rod Blagojevich pushed, prohibited selling or renting violent and sexually explicit video games to anyone younger than 18. Most lawmakers approved the proposal, but some expressed concerns about whether it was constitutional.
The governor not only pushed the bill, he created a website and made a big national splash with the issue. $500K is a small price to pay. The last discernable update on the site is December of last year, when the governor vowed to appeal the ruling that overturned the law (that top link, by the way, goes directly to the governor’s state website). You can read the judge’s decision here (pdf file).
A Blagojevich spokesman said the cash spent on the lawsuit was worth it.
“I think it is worth it,” Cardenas said of the ordered payment. “I mean, we’re looking at a bigger issue here, which is protecting children from exposure to violent and sexually explicit video games.”
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 7:41 am
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So raise taxes on video games to pay for the legal expenses used to fight the video game makers…what’s the problem here?
Comment by Leroy Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 7:53 am
The problem here is another half mil wasted on attorneys that could have bought a lot of new text books for the KIDS.
Comment by Mr . Ethics Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 8:39 am
This was just another of a continuing string of amateur moves by an amateur administration looking towards the White House.
The cost should come out of his enormous campaign fund, since the entire fiasco was just another campaign stunt. Then he should start paying for AllKids since that is his 2006 taxpayer funded campaign.
Comment by VanillaMan Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 8:49 am
Blago is all about trying to position himself for a national campaign. He will spend as much state cash as he can to gain national publicity on issues that might help in a democratic primary. It does not matter that the big splash is followed by a big thud. At this stage of the game, it is all about getting publicity and name recognition. Wasting state dollars is of no concern.
However, Blago’s parade will soon be cancelled due to rain from Mr. Fitzgerald’s gathering clouds.
Comment by BigBob Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:01 am
Blago gains national attention when he brings up his initiatives but only regional attention when they fail- so it is a win/win situation for him.
Comment by Shallow Pharnyx Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:31 am
So many people said at the time that the ban would be overturned because it was unconstitutional.
Let’s give credit to people who had the guts to stand up against the ban for this very reason. The judge’s order gives a half million reasons to raise concerns about whether a law violates the First Amendment.
Comment by the Other Anonymous Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 9:57 am
Rich, is the Gov’s person Cardenas a relative of Alderman Cardenas?
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 10:33 am
“…a bigger issue…”
Sorry, Cardenas. Wrong again.
The BIG, BIGGER, BIGGEST issue is this administrations complete and total disdain for for the constitution. Um, well, you know, the law.
Comment by Anonymous Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 12:37 pm
3 questions 1. How many of blogo’s hyped up laws have declared uncontitutional? 2. How much has the state paid in legal fees for the State’s lawyers? 3. How much has the state had to pay in other people’s legal fees?
Comment by Unconstitutional Friday, Aug 11, 06 @ 12:39 pm