Posted February 4th, 2010 5:59 am

It is easy and profitable for leaders to stand up for the rights of the moneyed interests in Kentucky. But the poor, the disenfranchised and the powerless need a voice too. In the Kentucky State Senate, that voice is Kathy Stein. One of the more dedicated voices in the Kentucky House of Representatives is Jesse Crenshaw, who has been tireless in what has so far been a hopeless challenge—to restore the rights of felons after they have paid their debt and been released from prison.

Such restoration of course encourages the released felon to be a lawful and recognized part of society, and reduces the disconnect from society that results in repeat offenders. And beyond that, it is only fair, since they have been held responsible for their actions.

Tony McVeigh of Kentucky Public Radio has details on Crenshaw’s very quiet but very persistent efforts. This year, it appears that the legislation will again be sent in the Senate to Damon Thayer’s committee, where it will die, without ever even being allowed to be considered by the elected senators. But it is enouraging that even prosecutors have dropped their opposition to the bill. While the bill may die again this year, Crenshaw’s persistence will pay off. Someday, the Senate will be composed of reasonable leaders who will recognize concepts such as redemption, forgiveness and fairness. This bill will become law. Although he won’t be high profile, Jesse Crenshaw isn’t going to take no for an answer.

From McVeigh’s report:

In the last three legislative sessions, Rep. Jesse Crenshaw has sought passage of a constitutional amendment allowing automatic restoration of voting rights for felons who have done their time. Each year, by increasingly wider margins, the Lexington Democrat’s bill has sailed through the House, only to quietly die in the Senate. But Crenshaw’s not giving up. He’s back with the bill again.
“It is a bill that would allow, with a small number of exceptions, ex-offenders who have been previously convicted of a felony, to have their rights to vote restored,” says Crenshaw.
The exceptions are ex-felons who served time for intentional murder, rape, sodomy and sexual contact with a minor. They would still have to seek a partial pardon from the governor – the current method of restoring voting rights for all ex-felons. Crenshaw says Gov. Beshear has simplified the current process, but Kentucky and Virginia are the only states still requiring partial pardons for ex-felons.
…
In the past, Crenshaw’s bill has drawn fire from prosecutors, like Ray Larson in Lexington. But this year, Dave Stengel of Jefferson County was the only prosecutor who testified on the bill, and he’s for it.
“There’s some states that actually have voting booths in the prison,” says Stengel. “I think that’s going a little bit far. But at the same time, it is just totally counterproductive to keep these people disenfranchised for the rest of their lives and then with the other hand say, we want you back as a working member of society.”
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At least 186,000 Kentuckians can’t vote because of past felony convictions. And that concerns Sen. Tom Buford, who would like to see more of them involved in the political process.
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Sen. Damon Thayer has an even tougher stance on the issue. The Georgetown Republican says the current process works just fine.
‘It’s not a cumbersome process,” says Thayer. “But it’s a process that they must go through and it’s a process that I support. And I don’t see a need to amend the constitution. And I’m also not for the automatic restoration of felon voting rights. It’s just a philosophical position that I have.”
That doesn’t bode well for supporters of the constitutional amendment, which cleared a House committee 8-0. Thayer chairs the Senate State and Local Government committee, where the bill likely will land, if – as expected – it wins House approval. Thayer has never allowed the bill to be heard during a legislative session, and tells Kentucky Public Radio he’s not inclined to alter his position. But Rep. Crenshaw says he won’t let that deter him.
“Some things take time,” says Crenshaw. “Some things take time!”
For now, the bill awaits a House floor vote.

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