The Minnesota House took a bill that got tough on sex offenders and made it even tougher Thursday. As MPR's Laura McCallum reports the toughest provisions were proposed by a legislative newcomer:
Before the House voted 123-10 for the bill, much of the seven hour debate focused on two proposals by first-term Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano.
One would allow judges to order chemical castration of sex offenders in some cases where the victim is younger than 13. Chemical castration involves taking drugs that suppress sex drive. Emmer argued that some pedophiles can't stop themselves from hurting children.
"This is not punishment. This is rehabilitation. We're trying to help those who can't help themselves," he said.
Emmer's proposal would also allow offenders to voluntarily seek surgical castration. The House voted 80-54 for Emmer's amendment, and by a similar margin for his proposal to identify the most dangerous level three sex offenders with special license plates and markings on their drivers' licenses. Neither of the measures had been debated this session before Emmer brought them up on the floor.
Rep. Al Juhnke, DFL-Willmar, said the license plate idea won't work, because sex offenders will find ways to get around the requirement.
"They're not going to drive their car with sexual predator plates to the school and park it so the cop can check on them. Members, these feel-good things, that's really all they are," he said.
Another Democrat, Ron Latz of St. Louis Park, said marking sex offenders with what amounts to a scarlet letter would set them up for failure in re-entering the community after they've served their prison time. Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, responded that the most violent sex offenders can't be rehabilitated.
"We're talking about sick, twisted, perverted minds who prey on not only the ones who are most dearest to us but the ones who are most vulnerable in our society," he said.
But again, are they really going to prey on the vulnerable before they change their license plates? And if a sex offender buys one of those DNR plates...oh, never mind. It'll be interesting to see if either of those provisions survives a conference committee.
While the House was talking about sex crimes the Senate Tax Committee has been talking about...taxes. Specifically they need to raise $1.4 billion to cover the new spending the Senate is proposing. This if from the Star Tribune:
Whether the income tax rate would be at the heart of that bill is still unknown, said Senate Taxes Chairman Larry Pogemiller, DFL-Minneapolis, but he said that only an income tax or sales tax increase could generate the kind of revenue needed.
The income tax bill, sponsored by Sen. John Hottinger, St. Peter, would boost taxes by an average of $8 on a single person making $25,000; by $146 for a single parent of one child making $60,000; by $456 for a married couple making $125,000, and, finally, at the top end, by $2,514 for a single person earning $350,000.
For all but the last example, the total tax would still be less than each would have paid in 1999, when tax rates were cut across the board, Hottinger said. Pogemiller said it is likely the bill will be amended to confine the rate increases to those earning more than $250,000. Hottinger said his bill would generate nearly $900 million in 2006-07. Pogemiller said the amendment would still raise close to that amount.
Of course Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he will veto a tax increase, so get ready for gridlock.
In a brief look at other news, the deal to quickly re-pass the concealed carry bill is off. Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson says his caucus wants to take a closer look at the bill, although he's still saying he will bring it to the floor this session. Supporters of the bill are outraged and say Johnson is flip-flopping on an earlier promise to put the bill on the fast track. MPR's Tom Scheck has a story about that.
DFLers in St. Paul meet Saturday to choose either Chris Coleman or Rafael Ortega as the candidate to run against Mayor Randy Kelly in the DFL primary in September. Coleman and Ortega were on Midday earlier this week. Kelly, who endorsed President Bush for re-election last year, isn't seeking the DFL endorsement.
