Elections put off spanking, tabloid measures

LOOK what campaign seasons do. The coming elections in May did all this:

l They put off indefinitely unpopular measures in local legislative bodies.

Cebu City Council froze the ordinance to criminalize spanking of children by parents.

Concern for well-being of kids clashed with parents’ basic right to discipline, abuse of which is pretty well covered by national laws. Their boss told councilors to cease and desist, and they did.

Cebu Provincial Board sat on the proposed anti-tabloid ordinance. Later revised because of strong flak, media still found unconstitutional the provision empowering the governor to seize newspapers suspected of being lewd. It hasn’t been heard of since then.

Wooing the voter

l They place on hold any move to raise taxes; instead, they prompt easing of burden on taxpayers.

City Hall just shelved a plan to revise tax assessments that would increase taxes on real properties. A 20 percent add-on would’ve taken effect in 2014 yet, but politicians aren’t taking chances.

Capitol ordered the south bus terminal fee scrapped, which would remind Cebuanos when in 1986 Marcos ordered the Mactan-Mandaue bridge toll removed just before the snap polls.

l They provide or increase benefits to government employees and other vote-heavy sectors.

Don’t anger, instead woo the voter. Ply him with freebies and steer away from unpopular controversies.

Call it election promo, give and take, or quid pro quo. Not vote-buying: donor and donee would insist it’s not and Comelec wouldn’t bother.

[paseares@sunstar.com.ph]