Thursday 2/28/2008 DAILY NEWS DIGEST
Birmingham News - House committee gives approval to measure that would place postsecondary rules under legislative control.
Birmingham News - Alabama GOP asks CBS for retraction or evidence to support allegations in “60 Minutes” report on Siegelman prosecution.
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News blasts Senate-passed PAC ban, stating that bill provides “a whole new way to launder contributions.”
Birmingham News - The Birmingham News challenges evaluation of ADEM director.
Mobile Press-Register - Committee approves measure that would restrict sexual offenders from living near college campuses.
Mobile Press-Register - Students, others testitify during public hearing on proposal to ban smoking in the public places and working environments.
Mobile Press-Register - Press-Register contends that producers of “60 Minutes” should “plead guilty to bad journalism.”
Gadsden Times - The Gadsden Times comments on disagreement between Chancellor of postsecondary system and Rep. Jack Page (D-Gadsden.
Montgomery Advertiser - Legislative budget chairs decide to delay work on state budgets.
Montgomery Advertiser - Senate committee delays consideration of immigration bill to allow public hearing.
Senate Sketches - “Senate Sketches,” the weekly column to his constituents by Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma).
Anniston Star - The Anniston Star finds Senate actions on proposed PAC-to-PAC ban “pathetic.”
Tuscaloosa News - Sale of Bryce Hospital property to UA may happen soon.
Tuscaloosa News - Summary of yesterday’s legislative action.
Tuscaloosa News - The Tuscaloosa News blasts Senate approval of weakened PAC ban law.
Times Daily - The Times Daily calls for Legislature to move to merit selection for judges rather than partisan elections.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Alabama, Florida and Georgia unlikely to reach agreement on water sharing before Saturday’s deadline.
FROM TODAY’S ANNISTON STAR:
State lawmakers considering new sex offender bills
Star Capitol Correspondent
MONTGOMERY — Alabama might want to make an addendum to its “Welcome to Alabama the Beautiful” interstate signs, reading “Welcome everybody but sex offenders.”
State lawmakers want to make the state less welcoming to those convicted of sex crimes, and are considering a number of bills on the matter this session.
The House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday green-lighted a bill that would make it illegal for convicted sex offenders to live or work within 2,000 feet of any college or university.
Bill sponsor Rep. Jamie Ison, R-Mobile, said a rash of sexual assaults on and near the University of Alabama and Auburn University Montgomery prompted her to introduce the bill to include colleges and universities under the definition of “schools” in existing law.
Alabama’s current law restricts adult convicted sex offenders from living or working within 2,000 feet of elementary and secondary schools, and child-care facilities such as day-care centers and pre-schools.
Ison said her bill is aimed at protecting the thousands of college coeds who are just out of high school and on their own for the first time.
She said it also helps law enforcement keep tabs on sex offenders who have “no legitimate business on campus.”
The bill would not bar sex offenders who are enrolled in school from attending class, but it would affect how close to school they are allowed to live.
If the bill becomes law, it could mean some changes for sex offenders in college towns such as Jacksonville.
With more than 9,000 students attending Jacksonville State University, President Bill Meehan said two-thirds of students live within striking distance of campus.
While he knows of no instances at JSU that have caused him to want a bill such as Ison’s, he supports equal treatment under the law.
“I think it’s good that all schools are being treated equally, whether its colleges and universities or K-12 public schools,” he said.
Sheriff Larry Amerson said there are approximately 200 sex offenders registered in Calhoun County, but estimates there are actually twice that number living in the county.
Amerson said the offenders who legally remain unregistered would likely not be affected by Ison’s bill or any other that restricts where sex offenders can live because they were grandfathered in when new laws were passed.
Ison’s bill might, however, force some of the 20 registered sex offenders living in Jacksonville to move if they live too close to campus.
Rep. Lea Fite, D-Jacksonville, said that is precisely the point.
“I will be blunt,” he said. “I don’t want any sexual predators in Calhoun County and I will do what I can to force them out. That’s how I feel.”
While Fite isn’t a co-sponsor on Ison’s bill, he is planning to co-sponsor a bill by Rep. Randy Wood, R-Anniston that would make it harder for sex offenders to live in Calhoun County.
That bill would further restrict where sex offenders in Calhoun County can live and work in relation to churches, schools and day-care centers, and how many of them can live in one dwelling.
“I feel sorry for these people that they have a hard time finding a place to live, but we have to look after the good people in our community,” he said. “If we can keep one person from getting harmed, everything we’ve done is worthwhile.”
Birmingham attorney David Gespass said he understands lawmakers’ concerns about protecting people from sexual offenders who prey on people, particularly children.
But there is one major flaw in the way they’re going about it, he says: all sex offenders are not created equal, even if they’re treated that way under Alabama law.
“All sex offenders, regardless of the crime, are lumped together, and there is no distinction made for how dangerous a person is, what their crime was and how likely they are to re-offend,” he said.
Gespass said the intent of the existing law is to protect young children from pedophiles, though it uses the more generic and all-inclusive term “sex offender.”
“There is something to be said for someone who is a violent rapist who is likely to rape again and saying that he cannot be close to a college campus where there are coeds who might be victimized,” he said. “People on college campuses aren’t in danger from a pedophile.”
“House committee gives approval to measure that would place postsecondary rules under legislative control.”
From all I’ve read I believe it would have been more accurate to say that Representative Terry Spicer gave the approval, rather than the committee.
Spicer’s arrogance and lack of respect for his fellow committee members and proper procedure is appalling. Unfortunately this is not the only instance of this type of behavior by the powers-that-be in our legislature.
Comment by Don — February 28, 2008 @ 9:12 am
You’re right, Don. While a committee chair ramrodding a bill through in this manner is not the rule, it’s not necessarily a rare occurence in the halls of the State House.
Comment by Anonymous — February 28, 2008 @ 9:16 am
You can watch the video of Spicer gaveling the bill through by clicking on the camera icon at this website: http://www.wsfa.com/global/story.asp?s=7936403
Comment by See For Yourself — February 28, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I’m a loyal Democrat, but i’m ashamed at how the Demcrats in the Legislature appear to be the crooks. In the Senate, the Democrats gutted the PAC-to-PAC prohibiton, and now Rep. Spicer makes a mockery of the process in order to further a bill that would reverse reforms in the junior college system. Democrats will soon be in a distinct minority if they are perceived as the ones against honest government.
Comment by Bridget — February 28, 2008 @ 11:04 am
Quote:
Rep. Lea Fite, D-Jacksonville, said that is precisely the point.
“I will be blunt,” he said. “I don’t want any sexual predators in Calhoun County and I will do what I can to force them out. That’s how I feel.”
____
Doesn’t Fite realize that a statement like this can be used in court cases that would potentially render ANY laws against registered sex offenders as unconstitutional? As a matter of fact, there is NO link between where sex offenders live and their likelihood to offend again. Since Fite has really let the cat out of the bag with that statement, it shows exactly why laws such as these have been unconstitutional since the founding of this country.
If the offenders are so bad, they should be in JAIL. Period. But that’s for a court of LAW to decide, NOT a legislature.
I hope RSO’s whom are forced out sue for millions. THAT way, we can actually get laws that ACTUALLY do what they are INTENDED to do…PROTECT CHILDREN! Sheesh…
Comment by Michael Storac — February 28, 2008 @ 5:03 pm