A pig with lipstick
From my Mark Gordon's blogger's brief. We are a pork producing state after all.
One of the few pieces of business that did get done on Tuesday before the Senate left for the holidays was to pass a measure – with the near unanimous support of Senate Democrats (two members did not vote) – that could put convicted felons on an equal footing with returning war heroes when companies hire new workers.
Under the terms of SB 1279, employers could qualify for special tax credits of up to $600 for hiring either returning veterans or non-violent offenders. The bill would also make it easier for convicted felons to obtain state licenses as auctioneers, architects, dieticians, funeral directors and accountants. A similar tax credit was included in the measure for veterans, but only for those who served in active duty in connection with Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The measure was similar to a bill that failed earlier this spring, which offered tax credits for hiring felons. During floor debate, Senator Wendall Jones (R-Palatine) said the addition of the veterans’ tax credit was an obvious attempt to camouflage a bad idea and described it as “a pig with lipstick.”
During questioning in the Senate Executive Committee, State Senator Brad Burzynksi (R-Clare), pointed out that the relaxed licensing requirements would allow an individual convicted of defrauding senior citizens to be granted an accounting license under the legislation.
8 comments:
I wonder, is it hypocritical to claim to be 'tough on crime' while at the same time refusing to discourage recidivism?
So excons telling us give my employer a tax credit for hiring me or I'll commit a crime again?
The sleazy part here is trying to get the credit through a second time with Veterans lumped in to make it palatable....
Best thing the Admin could do is figure out how to pay for opening Thompson...
Yeah. I don't think it is the ex-cons telling us anything. It is 1) the employers telling us they don't want to hire ex-cons. It is 2) the justice/penal system telling us the ex-cons have higher recidivism rates when they can't get jobs. It is government trying to solve point 2 by encouraging the opposite of point 1.
Yeah it is sad to try to get it passed by lumping vets in but it should have been a no-brainer by the 'tough on crime' crowd.
I can't imagine a $600 tax credit doing much to reduce recidivism.
Bill-
Are you a business owner? I am not so I cannot accurately say how significant a $600 dollar tax credit on business taxes would be.
$600 to an ex-con won't prevent recidivism. A real job might.
Sen. Jones seems to be a "pig with lipstick."
His SB100 which started out good enough, banning convicted sex offenders from schools and/or school property, was turned into a 'sex offenders bill-of-rights' by liberal Democrats in committee.
The bill passed, with sponsor Jones "not voting."
Yet, in an interview when asked upon his retirement what his proudest legislation was, he said SB100!
Wow, Aunt Glabby. How was SB 100 turned into a 'Sex Offender Bill of Rights'?
Either you don't understand the text of the bill and amendment or you don't understand the actual Bill of Rights.
The bill banned sex offenders from school grounds when children under the age of 18 are present. The amendment made an exception for three types of conferences with school personel when directly related to the sex offenders own children. There is no right to attend sporting events, school productions, science fairs, open houses, etc.
Secondly, why shouldn't Sen Jones be proud of the legislation? He sponsered a bill banning sex offenders from school when minors are present. Apparently he feels it important. The House added the amendment making the exceptions.
What a joke!
If he's proud of it, he should have voted for it.
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