Follow up on an issue we covered on Almanac recently, heres the press release from last night: Legislator Immunity Act of 2014 (HF 2282) Passes First Committee on 11-2 Vote Tonight, the Minnesota House of Representatives’ Government Operations Committee held a hearing of the, The Legislator Immunity Act of 2014 (HF 2282), and passed and referred to the Public Safety Committee on a 11-2 vote, with opposition from Chairmen Mike Nelson and Representative Rick Hanson. This legislation was researched, drafted and led by 8 Concordia University political science students who are giving up their week-long “Spring Break” to testified at the Minnesota Capitol to stop legislator immunity from impaired driving and will testify Friday on teacher background checks. The Minnesota State Constitution, Article 4 Section 10, allows for current sitting legislators to be exempt from arrest for breach of peace, treason or a felony during the legislative session. It is an age-old perk at the Minnesota Capitol, and its time has run out. Legislator immunity was created by our founding forefathers and it certainly we believe its purpose is historic but not for allowing legislators to get behind a truck wheel and drive drunk. The legislative immunity privilege gives lawmakers a potential pass on most offenses except in the cases of treason, breach of peace, or for a felony. There have been long-standing jokes around the Capitol about legislators’ equivalent of the “Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free” cards. We don’t find any of them funny. In fact we find it pretty shocking that current legislators we have spoken to about this privilege have told us, “I would rather have a legislator drive drunk then miss a vote!” According to the National Highway Traffic Administration, every 90 seconds, a person is injured in a drunken driving related crash. The “Legislator Immunity Act of 2014” will not only stop drinking and driving, but will help ensure that every Minnesotan is held to the same standard. Driving safe should be everyone’s responsibility, including our state legislators. Majority of legislators would never think of using this outdated privilege and support our legislation. Our goal isn’t to slam the door on after-hours bipartisan “fun”. Our goal is to do what is right—turning a blind eye to legislative immunity allows legislators to reach levels of aristocracy which is clearly unacceptable, and against every American value instilled in our society. ### About “The Legislator Immunity Act of 2014”: The House bill is chief authored by Representative Ryan Winkler (D) and coauthored by Representatives Nena Moran, Linda Slocum, Zachary Dorholt, Tony Cornish, Mike Freiberg and Steve Drazkowski. In the Senate, the companion bill is chief authored by Chairwoman Kathy Sherran and coauthored by Senators Bill Ingebrigtsen and Greg Clausen. About Concordia University Political Science Students: We are 8 Concordia University-St. Paul political science students, who care about Minnesota, with 1 hands-on tough professor and we’re ready and fired up for the 2014 legislative Session. We have a record of legislative success and now we are bringing that record to a whole new level.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 13:59:55 +0000
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