The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression picked a Maine agency’s ban on Santa’s Butt Winter Porter as one of the nation’s most egregious violations of free speech in 2006.
Joshua Wheeler, associate director of the Jefferson Center, said the Shelton Bros. case illustrates a common problem involving the way states restrict how alcohol companies market their products. “We think they step over the line in terms of regulating speech about alcohol and alcohol products,” he said.
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., finished first on the list for calling on the Justice Department to investigate The New York Times after it published information about government surveillance of international financial transactions.