California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Backs Electronic Tracking for Sex Offenders
The San Francisco Chronicle has Governor backs electronic tracking for sex offenders Democrats say Schwarzenegger’s proposal is about politics, not policy.
Tens of thousands of California sex offenders would be forced to wear electronic tracking devices for the rest of their lives under two new bills backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The bill, which boosts punishment for a wide range of sex offenses, “will give California the strictest laws and the toughest penalties for the worst crimes,” he said Tuesday. “We want these criminals off the streets and away from our schools and children.”
About DAMN time. How many convicted sex offenders have to re-offend before corrective legislation gets through the Leftie California Legislature.
The governor’s Capitol news conference turned up the heat on the Democrat-led Legislature, where many of the measures contained in the omnibus bills have died in party-line committee votes.
Schwarzenegger appeared at the news conference surrounded by Republican legislators and district attorneys, sheriffs and police chiefs from around the state, all supporting tougher sanctions on sex offenders.
The governor plans a full-court press to garner support for the bill, with events scheduled across the state. On Thursday, for example, former Gov. Pete Wilson and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca will pump up the measure in a Southern California appearance.
But Schwarzenegger also warned he’s ready to go directly to the people with an initiative if Democrats don’t cooperate.
Californians are demanding more protection from sexual predators and there’s no reason to delay, he said.
Well, the Governor has had to schedule a special election this November because of the failure of the Democrat leaders and the Democrat controlled legislature. If the legislature fails to act on a change of the law then circulate an initiative and take it to the people of California.
Democrats were enraged at Schwarzenegger’s suggestion that they’re less interested in public safety than Republicans.
The governor’s news conference was more about politics than policy, said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco and chair of the Assembly’s criminal justice committee.
There’s room to work out agreements on many on the sex offender issues if Republicans really want to negotiate, he said.
“If their only intent is to wave a red flag and then run off to the ballot, that’s another thing altogether,” Leno said.
The two bills, SB588 and AB231 are by state Sen. George Runner and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner, a husband and wife team of Antelope Valley Republicans.
Assemblyman Leno your track record and that of your Democrat colleagues is less than stellar. Your caucus would rather vote California Driver’s Licenses to illegal aliens than protect regular folks from sexual predators.
Now, isn’t that the truth?
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