Juvenile Life Without Parole (JLWOP) is America’s shame and a duplicitous practice that should be ended. Children should never be treated like adults even when they commit severe crimes – it just commonsense.
Former State Senator DiAnna Schimek sounds off on LB 75. She is credited with introducing the bill 12 years ago that created the current that allows returning citizens the right to vote after 2-years of discharge or parole. But read her statements at the link below.
Legislative Bill (LB) 75 will have a hearing before the Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on March 1st 2017 at 9:15 a.m. room #1507. LB 75 seeks the elimination of the two-year waiting period to exercise the right to vote after discharging a felony sentence or completion of parole on that sentence.
If you can’t attend the hearing please convey your support for the passing of LB 75 via letters, emails or phone calls to the Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee members at:
| Sen. John Murante (chairman)
District 49 Room #1423 |
Sen. Carol Blood
District 3 Room #1021
|
| Sen. Tom Brewer
District 43 Room #1202
|
Sen. Tom Briese
District 41 Room #1120
|
| Sen. Joni Craighead
District 6 Room #2107 Sen. John Lowe District 37 Room #1528
|
Sen. Mike Hilgers
District 21 Room #1404 Sen. Justin Wayne District 13 Room #1212
|
www.change.org/p/nebraska-state-senators-justus15vote-count-my-vote
www.facebook.com/justus15vote-2092199801005181
www.youtube.com/channel/UCtZQFIQzZE4Y26ymbP1IAvQ
This is written to request your assistance to help disenfranchised Nebraska citizens. Who are they? They represent every demographic, black, white, young, old, veterans, etc… some are your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers.
I am one of 17,000+ Nebraska citizens that are barred from voting for 2-years after the completion of my felony sentence. My sentence has been completely served. I’m not on parole nor under any supervision in connection with my former sentence, my sentence is final – done. Last year there were 7,000 Nebraskan citizens prohibited from voting in connection with Nebraska law (2-year waiting period to vote after parole or discharging a felony sentence). About 40% of the total number of disenfranchised Nebraska citizens are like me i.e., have completed their sentence.
There are numerous reasons why the current is untenable and stirs up archaic practices akin to Jim Crow, literacy tests and poll taxes. I’ll cite two reasons, reentry and taxes. If chances are important they need to be adequately facilitated. Reentry issues are important because they reintegrated a person back into society – that should happen immediately not after 2-years. After obtaining employment and housing, voting is the next most important civic exercise that puts all citizens on an equal footing.
I’m taxes at the same rate as every other citizen. My former felony sentence doesn’t exempt from being taxed nor provide me with a rebate at the end the year. I’m taxed and unrepresented (taxation without presentation) because I’m barred from voting. I possess no participation in how my taxes are utilized. This is contrary to principles that began this country. If I’m paying taxes like every other citizen I should be voting like them too.
What can you do to assistance your fellow disenfranchised Nebraskans? You can support LB 75 (the elimination of the 2-year waiting period to vote after completion of a felony sentence). Please write, call, email or visit your senator requesting that they vote for LB 75.
Today (Feb 3rd) marks the 147th anniversary of the 15th Amendment to the United States Constitution being ratified by the Congress which guaranteed the right to vote for all citizens. The Justus15 Initiative makes this recognition due to its name – Justus15!
For the week ending February 12, 2017,
the Nebraska Legislature’s Government, Military and Veterans Affairs Committee has not scheduled a hearing for LB 75. There will be another update next Sunday on all things LB 75. The petition to gather signatures as a show of support for LB 75 is still growing and reached its initial goal. However, until LB 75 is heard in committee we want to continue to gather more signatures. Thank you to everybody that has signed the petition so far. Follow the link to sign the petition. https://www.change.org/p/nebraska-state-senators-justus15vote-count-my-vote?urce=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink
justus15vote 