Hann sees no controversy over Blackmun bust

Posted at 1:37 PM on January 25, 2013 by Tom Scheck (0 Comments)
Filed under: MN Legislature

Two key legislative leaders from opposite parties say they aren't concerned about putting a bust of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun in the State Capitol.

Minnesota Citizen's Concerned for Life, which opposes legalized abortion, is condemning legislation that would pay for a bust of Blackmun, who is a St. Paul native. The group is expressing outrage because Blackmun authored the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision that legalized abortion. When asked about the legislation today GOP Senate Minority Leader David Hann said he didn't know about the proposal or the opposition.

"I don't have a feeling one way or another," Hann said. "I didn't know there was a controversy over that. He's a Supreme Court justice. Where's the controversy?"

When told about MCCL's position on the matter, Hann later told reporters that he doesn't take his marching orders from the group.

DFL House Majority Leader Erin Murphy called Blackmun a "famous jurist" and was surprised people would be upset about putting a bust of Blackmun in the Minnesota Capitol.

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