Jason Spencer Withdraws His Controversial Bill
When I posted about Jason Spencer’s House Bill 3 this morning, I speculated that that the bill could be withdrawn if it received a bad reception. Well, it did.
Rep. Spencer said today that he will withdraw the measure, which appeared to target Muslim women wearing burqas:
After further consideration, I have decided to not pursue HB 3 in the upcoming 2017 legislative session due to the visceral reaction it has created.
While this bill does not contain language that specifically targets any group, I am mindful of the perception that it has created. My objective was to address radical elements that could pose a threat to public safety. However, further consideration dictates that other solutions will need to be considered. In conclusion, anti-masking statutes have been upheld as constitutional (State v Miller, 1990), and HB 3 would withstand legal scrutiny, but not political scrutiny.
Now, about that proposed tax on wire transfers that its author says isn’t aimed at Hispanics.
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Jon Richards
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Well then, simply amend the bill, to exempt “traditional religious clothing”, as well.
OCGA § 16-11-38
b) This Code section shall not apply to:
(1) A person wearing a traditional holiday costume on the occasion of the holiday; (2) A person lawfully engaged in trade and employment or in a sporting activity where a mask is worn for the purpose of ensuring the physical safety of the wearer, or because of the nature of the occupation, trade or profession, or sporting activity; (3) A person using a mask in a theatrical production including use in Mardi Gras celebrations and masquerade balls;
or(4) A person wearing a gas mask prescribed in emergency management drills and exercises or emergencies, or (5) traditional religious clothing.Poor Rep. Spencer. He was leading the Trump inspired anti-Muslim parade, only to find no one following him. May it always be so.
As to the bill on taxing wire transfers (businesses excluded natch), legislators that don’t know the difference between a fee and a tax have no business sponsoring revenue legislation.
A damn big shark for one thing.
https://www.facebook.com/Maryleeshark/
“radical elements”? the code words are not even thinly veiled.