Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bill That Could Lead To Prosecution Of Librarians
HuffPost
The legislation comes amid a soaring number of book challenges — often centered on LGBTQ content — and efforts in a number of states to ban drag queen story readings.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation that could see librarians prosecuted under the state’s obscenity law for providing “harmful” materials to minors, the latest in a wave of bills in Republican-led states targeting library content and decisions.
The Alabama House of Representatives voted 72-28 for the bill that now moves to the Alabama Senate. The legislation comes amid a soaring number of book challenges — often centered on LGBTQ content — and efforts in a number of states to ban drag queen story readings.
“This is an effort to protect children. It is not a Democrat bill. It’s not a Republican bill. It’s a people bill to try to protect children,” Republican Rep. Arnold Mooney, the bill’s sponsor, said during debate.
The Alabama bill removes the existing exemption for public libraries in the state’s obscenity law. It also expands the definition of prohibited sexual conduct to include any “sexual or gender oriented conduct” at K-12 public schools or public libraries that “exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities.”
Under the process laid out in the bill, a librarian in a public library or public K-12 school could face a misdemeanor charge if the librarian fails to remove material or cease conduct that violates the state’s obscenity law within seven days of receiving a written complaint from the public.
"If you're going to buy somebody something that comes in pairs, like shoes or socks, give that person both of them," advised the niece of the president-elect.
Despite his best efforts, the former GOP representative has failed to outrun the congressional investigation into his alleged crimes.
Republicans who oppose Trump's Cabinet nominees could find themselves with a lump of coal — or a primary challenger — in the next Congress.
“Anybody who wants to give me heat for doing my job, bring it on,” said John Curtis, who was elected to replace the Trump critic in the upper chamber.
The president’s season’s greetings were greeted with contempt by conservatives for the silliest reason.
The former congressman knocked the "sad" NBC show following the comedian's name-drop.
Bill Hagerty claimed the billionaire's social media takes led to his office being "inundated with calls."
The Bulwark's Tim Miller wrote that the election-denying conspiracy theorist made a "SCENE" at a Turning Point USA conference afterparty.
A sheriff in rural, coastal Oregon says he's concerned about letters asking residents to collect information on immigrants.
Trump also talked about the TikTok ban and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. leading the health department.
Following a 5-month absence from the House, Granger's family confirmed she was dealing with dementia.