Councilwoman disputes 13-cent computer penalty

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

A Cincinnati city councilwoman is suing the city over a 13-cent penalty she was ordered to pay for using a city computer for political purposes.

Councilwoman Laure Quinlivan wants a judge to throw out the case and scrap the city code that forbids taxpayer resources from being used to engage in political activity. She says her free-speech rights were violated and the city code unconstitutionally limits her ability to use the Internet.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Quinlivan was sued by a Cincinnati anti-tax group who says her website contains information about her re-election campaign and how to donate, in violation of city law.

Quinlivan lawyer Tom Hodges says that she is being punished for trying to keep people informed. She has paid the fine and removed parts of the website.

Information from: The Cincinnati Enquirer, http://www.enquirer.com