SPRINGFIELD -- A bipartisan coalition of Missouri House members is
planning to sign on to a budget amendment that would prohibit the
Department of Public Safety from using any state or federal money
for "political profiling."
Springfield Rep. Bob Dixon tells KY3 News that the proposed amendment
will be offered on the floor Wednesday in response to the political
firestorm over the MIAC security report. The security report targets
specific groups as potential security threats. Those on the watch-list
include members of Christian Identity, Anti-Abortionists, Tax Resistors,
Anti-Immigration advocates and supporters of third party candidates
like Ron Paul. On Monday, the state's head of Public Safety apologized
for the reference to the third party candidates --- but had no comment
on the other characteristics used in the report that some conservatives
have found offensive.
Dixon said several meetings were held at the state Capitol on Tuesday
to discuss how best to respond to lawmakers problems with the language
included. "It's just outrageous. The report is so sloppy. When
you begin going into specific political candidates, it's really on
the edge. Like Big Brother. It's got a lot of people upset,"
Dixon said in an interview.
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Dixon said that there's strong bipartisan support for the amendment. "It will be a unified response," Dixon said.
Rep. Jim Guest will offer the amendment on the floor Wednesday during debate over HB 8. Rep. Chris Kelly will be the leading Democrat to sign on.
