S.D. legislators vote down ban on sexual contact with interns

[Jose Garcia]

Source: The Hill

South Dakota lawmakers have blocked a proposed rule that would have banned sexual contact between legislators and their young interns and pages.

State Sen. Stace Nelson (R), who sponsored the proposed ban, told fellow legislators the rule is necessary to prevent a repeat of an ugly incident from 2007, when a member of the state Senate was censured after being accused of fondling an intern.

“There’s been events in history that indicate these rules should have been put in stone and they haven’t,” Nelson told the Joint Committee on Legislative Procedure, according to the Argus Leader. “This is a rule we brought forth to address this so that there is no gray area.”

Those who voted against the proposal said inappropriate sexual advances are already banned under state rules. The committee voted to defer the proposal for more than a month, a step that effectively kills the idea.

Read more: http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/313956-sd-legislators-vote-down-ban-on-sexual-contact-with-interns

[guillaumeb]

1. The opponents said:

Those who voted against the proposal said inappropriate sexual advances are already banned under state rules. The committee voted to defer the proposal for more than a month, a step that effectively kills the idea.

Predators will be predators no matter the law.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. I'll be honest, I would likely have voted the same way for the same reason.

It's already prohibited by law, so adding another ban is meaningless.

[guillaumeb]

6. Agreed. Better to enforce what exists and let the predators know

that such behavior will be punished.

[IntraPolitico]

2. Wow

Well that's just great isn't it? These Predators will continue to be exonerated from their actions and now not even the law can stop them.

[ffr]

4. Beware taking employment with a republicon.

You've been warned Joe & Jane Hoodwink.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Well, isn't that special?