Morning Reads for Monday, February 1, 2021

We didn’t have a wish list thread this year, what with all the Covid, post-post-election folderol, insurrection, Jewish space lasers and such, but since the legislature is still in session I thought perhaps some legislation might be order. I know the budget is at the top of everyone’s mind all the way to the bottom of their hearts in most cases but that will never change. However, outside of the budget the legislature usually excels at really stupid and futile gestures, like the heartbeat bill. Now while I realize there is a perceived need to make sure Ralph Reed gains access to white protestant pulpits and therefore their pockets some of the rest of us would like to see something substantive. Now IANAL and have no idea on actual wording/implementation but here are a few of my own wishes thrown up against the proverbial Teflon wall:

• Citizen’s arrest code. I know there is some momentum going on this one but it needs to happen. We’ve seen the power of arrest abused by sworn peace officers in the past but there is legal recourse there already on the books. Unless it is protecting life and limb an ordinary citizen should not be able to detain another.

• Policing for profit. I bring it up every year. It’s still going on. This is one that has received a few of those futile gestures in Georgia and the problem still exists. Civil forfeitures should not be allowed without a criminal conviction. Reporting and accounting for forfeitures should be enforced with failures to do so resulting in criminal penalties. Forfeitures should not be a slush fund for Sheriff’s luxury vehicles. Even the state Department of Revenue abused over $3 million of forfeiture money in a slush fund last year with only token punishment.

• This is part of the above and has a snowball’s chance but I would have all traffic fine money and restitutions not going back to victims returned to the state treasury to be doled out on a per capita basis to the counties. Citations should be issued to promote safety not additional direct revenue for local coffers.

• Theresa noted the redistricting delays so this year in particular might be a good one for Republicans to take the long view and give the citizens an opportunity to vote for a nonpartisan commission for reapportionment in the form of a constitutional amendment. I know the nonpartisan part of that is a bit of a unicorn but perhaps it would help to tie their options up with a mandated algorithm baked into the amendment. My youth was spent seeing the majority Democratic Party marginalizing Republicans and minorities. Now the Republicans have had some payback but it might be prudent while still in power to make it nonpartisan. Or just because it is just the right way to govern.

• Lastly, and this has also been one of my perennials, get rid of taxpayer funded party primaries. Jungle primaries may not eliminate the MTGs in the state but they would at least help. I still don’t understand how the taxpayer funded primaries are constitutional even with the stupid and futile gesture of a nonpartisan ballot. We still have crossover voting trying to sabotage the opposing party’s chances and frequently they backfire. That contributed in my youth to getting Lester Maddox. It contributed 5 years ago in giving us Donald Trump. The State, like justice should be blind when it comes to party affiliations of candidates. A primary or semi-final if you will, followed by a general or final. No runoffs required.