Restoration Hearing in Louisville
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I have a 25-year-old son who had lost his faith in this Democracy... and he grew up watching me not able to vote and he didn't think voting mattered. But last year, he signed the card to register to vote. There's hope in my family and in my community in Democracy and that makes a big difference." - Tayna Fogle
On Monday, the Interim Joint Committee on State Government Task Force on Elections met at the Louisville Urban League building to discuss Restoration of Voting Rights for Former Felons and the bill filed by Rep. Darryl Owens for the upcoming General Assembly.
KFTC members including former felons and allies came to the meeting from across the state to testify and convey their support for the legislation.
Speakers included Ed Monahan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Kentucky, Mitchell Ford, a former felon spokesperson from People Advocating Recovery, Tayna Fogle, a former felon spokesperson and KFTC leader, Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney David Stengel, Teena Halbig, president League of Women Voters of Louisville, and Raul Cunningham of the NAACP.
"You're changing a lot of people's lives for the better if you pass this law"
- Mitchell Ford
Legislators were very responsive to the testimony, voicing support and asking technical follow-up questions. Senator Julian Carroll was especially vocal in his support, praising the former felons in the room for the steps forward taken in their recovery.
Reps. Owens, Mike Cherry, Mike Harmon, Melvin Hensley and Sen. Carroll were the only legislators to show up to their committee meeting, which lessened the impact of the powerful presentation.
Disenfranchisment Laws
-----Original Message-----
From: richirav@netscape.net
To: rsantorum@eppc.org
Sent: Tue, 4 Dec 2007 8:05 pm
Subject: Disenfrancisement Laws ?
To whom this arrives:
I would hope this issue makes it to Mr. Santorum but would settle for a responce from whomever reads my email. According to the ACLU chapter of NYC there are over 5 MILLION people that are stigmatized by the current Disenfrancisement Laws, there are two states that do not even allow an individual that has been convicted of a crime the right to VOTE ? I am a long time conservative and have contributed to Mr. Santorum and other conservative organizations. I am no left wing jerk ! Unfortuately I am directly affected by the Disenfrancisement Laws, thru my research I find that there are a number of organizations that are lobbying to change our current laws, but I have no venue within the conservative party.
There are 5 MILLION people throughout the United States that are stigmatized. I understand politics and know that the first candidate that brings up this issue will have a MAJOR advantage to their campain! The question is how far is the candidate willing to go, and who will champion this cause, I can promise you when the disenfracised learn that if they vote for Mr. X (strategy in place) they can experience the promises of our great nation such as the pursuit of LIFE, LIBERTY, and finally HAPPINESS once again, that candidate will have that VOTE !!!!
The Legal Action Center has a proposal on their website which is FAIR and I would suggest we, conservatives get this issue right because there is a movement in Arizona, and Florida to change current policy. We are the party of President Lincoln, we are the party that ended slavery, lets be the party that brings our people out of obscurity and unite our great country with a vote from the stigmatized Americans that will Never Forget who gave us our right to pursue LIFE, LIBERTY, and Happiness once again !!!!
Please respond I am a true conservative !
Thank you.