OLYMPIA…
Despite personal requests from several lawmakers and a
signed letter asking the speaker of the
House of Representatives to consider
Senate Bill 5218 before Friday’s 5 p.m. cutoff, the
majority party chose not to take up the bill to keep
child pornography out of the hands of violent sex
predators.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Carrell, R-Lakewood, sent
letters to majority members of the House, including the
two who share representation of his district, sit on the
House Rules Committee and were in a position to bring
the bill before the entire House for consideration.
“This really is politics at its worst,” Carrell said.
“When people in power choose not to help protect the
public it really shines a spotlight on the negative
aspects of one-party rule in state government.”
SB 5218, which passed the Senate unanimously in
February, would have restricted the computer access of
violent sex predators housed in the state’s
Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island. It would
have required that the use of a computer by SCC
residents only be allowed if
Department
of Social and Health Services representatives who
operate the SCC deem it necessary for an individual’s
treatment.
Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, opined in favor of the
bill’s passage by speaking with fellow House members,
writing letters, sending e-mails, and issuing a
news release; however, all efforts fell on deaf
ears. Carrell says he truly appreciates the work done on
behalf of his bill, which has been hung up in the House
for two consecutive sessions. Carrell added that he will
introduce the bill again in 2010.
“Some individuals at the SCC have used computers to view
child porn smuggled in from the outside, or even create
it themselves using drawing programs,” Carrell said.
“Every member of the Senate felt this bill was needed
and it’s too bad that the House didn’t feel the same.
I’m grateful to Representative Pearson and the staffers
who pushed for this bill to be considered, and it’s
unfortunate that the majority party seems more focused
on taxes than protecting the public.”
