After committee amendments and debate on the House floor, House Bill 1087, the Free Speech Act, passed on a vote of 26-7, with only a couple of Republicans joining Democrats to oppose the protection of free speech on our state university campuses.
The dissension on the negotiated measure was led by Democrat Senator Troy Heinert, who was concerned that universities should protect young people from ideas and words that may hurt and offend them… which is kind of the opposite of free speech.
But we’ll at least give Senator Heinert points for consistency for his attacks on free speech this session, since he’s also the person who wanted to criminalize speaking against politicians.
I’ll have the vote posted as soon as it’s available.
The bill now moves back to the House for that body to concur with Senate amendments.
Glad to see Sen. Bolin vote the right way. Good for him
Sen. Heinert is the Octavio-Cortez of SD. He’s a liberal idiot with no moral compass. He’s the one who sold his own Native people down the river when he had a chance to do something about the GEAR-UP scandal.(His own mother was one of those on the gravy train!) I can’t believe he keeps getting re-elected. (PS- I think in the first sentence it should say “debate on the SENATE floor”) Thanks !
Keep in mind, Troy is a huge Sutton supporter and the Suttons themselves think he really is “such a good guy”.