Posted on 06/28/2007 3:16:55 PM PDT by neverdem
Angry Phila. legislators aim to hold up spending bill over crime relief.
HARRISBURG - Anger about the lack of action on gun-control bills boiled over onto the House floor yesterday, with several African American Democrats from Philadelphia vowing to hold up passage of the state budget unless their bills are considered. With the city's death toll approaching 200 this year, six members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus made impassioned pleas for help during an unexpected two-hour discussion about gun violence and many of its root causes: drugs, joblessness and poverty.
They were not debating a bill; none of the 14 anticrime bills introduced this session has even made it out of a House committee.
Amid a busy day filled with a slew of budget bills, Rep. Jewell Williams, chairman of the Philadelphia delegation, used a parliamentary procedure known as "unanimous consent" to voice his frustration over the stalled gun-control bills.
"I am going to make it completely clear: no gun legislation, no votes for the budget," Williams said. "Philadelphia members are constantly asked to support legislation that helps other areas of the state as our pleas for help continue to fall on deaf ears.
The Democrats hold a one-seat majority in the 203-member House. The caucus, with 17 members, could block the budget.
Rep. Thomas W. Blackwell of Philadelphia told anti-gun-control rural lawmakers, who make up the majority of the House, that he had no intention of trying to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens.
"We're not trying to control what you do in your home," he said. "We're trying to control what's going on in the streets of Philadelphia."
Several suburban Philadelphia lawmakers stood to support their urban colleagues. Rep. Mike Gerber (D., Montgomery) said gun violence has a negative effect on the region.
"These problems don't know city borders," he said. "The guns flow into Montgomery County, certainly in levels that are unacceptable."
Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland (D., Delaware), chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, which has 17 House members, invoked the words of civil rights activist Malcolm X on the House floor, saying he was prepared to advance the cause of gun control "by any means necessary."
"We are prepared to stand firm and we could hold up some things," he said. When asked whether he meant the budget, Kirkland said, "yes."
It was unclear how many other members of the caucus would support Williams and Kirkland in their threat, but House leadership recognized the power of the caucus as a voting bloc.
"Their concern is legitimate; you can't blame them for using the only tool in their toolbox," said Mike Manzo, chief of staff for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D., Greene). "They wield considerable influence."
Gov. Rendell has repeatedly called for stricter gun laws, even going so far last month as to suggest that the legislature was being controlled by the National Rifle Association.
His spokesman, Chuck Ardo, said Rendell sympathizes with the Philadelphia legislators' intent and that "he himself intends to make a further push for the one-handgun-a month legislation in the fall."
But, he added, "If the governor held up the budget over every critical issue facing the commonwealth, at least the essential personnel will be here when the snow falls."
Early yesterday evening, in a surprise move, Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D., Berks), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, called a committee meeting to vote on Williams' bill to require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms (HB 29).
It failed by a vote of 11-17, but committee members agreed to reconsider the legislation later.
Other gun-control legislation still in the House Judiciary Committee includes a bill that would limit handgun purchases to one a month and another that would allow Philadelphia to craft its own gun laws.
One outcome of yesterday's impromptu gun-control debate is a new commission that will come up with bipartisan anticrime legislation.
House Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.), responding to a request from members, said he would form a special commission to address crime and violence. His spokesman, Bill Patton, said the commission members would include outside experts and crime victims' groups, as well as lawmakers, who will draft legislation for consideration this fall.
For some, there's been enough talk about crime.
"Commissions are fine," said Kirkland. "But we have to move beyond that. We need action."
Contact staff writer Amy Worden at 717-783-2584 or aworden@phillynews.com.
Over “crime relief”? If they want crime relief, they would allow law-abiding citizens in their districts to own guns.
Then instead of banning guns, they should address the root problems. Or is that too simple for them to figure out?
LOL !
I like it, no new spending and no new gun control laws , gridlock is a win-win ....
It’s a quagmire, we must pull out!!!
Mark
It is what it is. there are some parts of Philly so bad the cops don’t even want to go in there.
IF GUNS CAUSE CRIME, MATCHES CAUSE ARSON!!
I imagine that if someone invades your home in Philly, the chances that the police will arrive in time to help is about zero.
Black people need to work toward taking responsibility for their own problems. That means encouraging a culture of virtue and honor instead of a culture of rap, hip hop, and drugs. It means defending your home instead of supporting your local drug dealer.
Black preachers need to get on to this. Family, honor, virtue, responsibility, no more poverty pimping and victimology.
There’s no way that white people in rural Pennsylvania are going to be able to solve the problems of Philadelphia. The people of Philadelphia have to do it.
Seems to me you have the Democrats in Philadelphia asking for pretty much the same thing in this "no state budget" idea.
"W" should act now to withdraw all American forces from Philadelphia (Army/Navy recruiters, Air National Guard jet fighters and transports at PHL, federal reserve bank, USPS facilities, and so forth) so that the insurgents are no longer provoked to anger.
The Governor should probably pull out any state government elements as well.
Then the various posses and street militia in the city should be allowed to settle this issue among themselves.
This should save both the US and Pennsylvania governments a small fortune. It will no doubt make everyone happy provided the refugees can be kept inside the city limits.
Okay, how about no guns for black people. Would that make them happy?
“Do what we say or the state will spend no money for the foreseeable future!”
What to do, what to do ...
“I like it, no new spending and no new gun control laws , gridlock is a win-win ....”
You are a pragmatist!
Sounds like their biggest issue is with their respective constituencies.
Let’s trade Philly to New Jersey for a future draft pick...
If every inner city black had a gun, it would be a lot better than it is now.
Taking guns from law-abiding citizens won’t solve the problem of this guy’s constituents killing each other. Try having them get married before having kids. Try having them stop the self-loathing hate and work and study hard.
They have seen too many victims with guns fighting back. Without more gun control too many law abiding citizens will have guns and that would give them an unfair advantage over the criminals. We could never have that.
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