Governor considers fees for protesters who get arrested

Minnesota governor considers fees for protesters who get arrested

Critic calls idea 'un-American'

From Sasha Johnson
CNN Washington Bureau
Wednesday, April 2, 2003 Posted: 12:41 PM EST (1741 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Protesters in Minnesota could find it expensive to champion their cause if the governor there has his way.
Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty is considering a proposal that would require demonstrators who get arrested to foot a portion of the bill for the time it takes police to place them in custody.
The idea -- not yet submitted to the state legislature -- comes in the wake of arrests of about 90 antiwar demonstrators in the Minneapolis area last week.
A spokeswoman for the governor said it's a matter of scarce resources and that anti-war protesters are not being targeted.
"This is not in any way just about antiwar protesters," Pawlenty's spokeswoman Leslie Kupchella said. "The governor doesn't think getting arrested should be used as a public relations tactic." She said many protesters deliberately get arrested and that is an expense to local communities and the state.
Critics are not so sure. One said the governor's support of the U.S.-led war in Iraq is the impetus for the idea.
"This is frankly a tactic the communist Chinese use: they make you pay for the cost of prosecution. It's un-American," said Charles Samuelson, executive director of the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union. If the governor moves forward with the legislation, Samuelson said he should be prepared to treat demonstrators whose opinions he shares in the same manner.
Kupchella said the legislation, if drafted, would extend beyond antiwar protesters to include members of any group who purposefully put themselves in the position of being arrested.
On Friday, Pawlenty sent a letter to Chief Justice Kathleen Blatz suggesting demonstrators cover the cost of their arrests.
"While people have a right to free speech, they do not have a right to a free arrest," the governor wrote. "Restitution would not need to be in the full amount of the cost of the arrest, but the principle of restitution in such circumstances is important."
Kupchella said the governor is considering a fee of $200 to $300 for protesters who get arrested.
Minnesota, like most states, is dealing with difficult economic times. State officials are projecting a $4.2 billion budget shortfall and are facing mounting homeland security costs. In his letter, the governor cited "limited resources" and said the money to pay for arrests could be used instead for homeland security expenses.
It's not clear how such a bill would be received in the Minnesota State Legislature. Republicans control the state House, but Democrats hold a slight edge in the state Senate.
Pawlenty could decide his next step by the end of the week when a majority of the arrested demonstrators are expected in court.

Should they be made to pay if they commited an illegal act? Is the governor on the right track?

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/04/02/sprj.irq.minnesota.protesters/index.html