[Vision2020] 2/12/2007 Daily News Editorial: Theft laws must beapplied equal

[J Ford]

So, Tom Trail or Shirley Ringo...care to comment on this or better yet - 
care to submit a new bill that would cover this issue?  Or rather, close the 
gaping hole in the law?!!

Thanks for posting this, Saundra.



J  :]





>From: "Saundra Lund" <sslund at roadrunner.com>
>To: <vision2020 at moscow.com>
>Subject: [Vision2020] 2/12/2007 Daily News Editorial: Theft laws must 
>beapplied equally
>Date: Mon, 12 Feb 2007 22:08:53 -0800
>
>OUR VIEW: Theft laws must be applied equally
>
>By Doug Bauer, for the editorial board
>Monday, February 12, 2007 - Page Updated at 10:30:51 AM
>
>There usually is a clear distinction between thefts that warrant 
>misdemeanor
>charges and those considered felony offenses.
>
>A dollar figure generally determines the extent of the charges, but a legal
>loophole in Idaho allows some government officials who misuse public funds
>to avoid a felony conviction.
>
>Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden recently tried to close that
>loophole, but his efforts were rebuffed by the Legislature.
>
>One has to wonder why our lawmakers had a problem with holding someone in a
>position of power accountable for actions that would put any regular person
>behind bars.
>
>At issue is an April decision by the Idaho Appeals Court, which ruled
>Idaho's "misuse-of-funds law" could only be used against those whose
>"official position" includes "the receipt, safe keeping, transfer or
>reimbursement" of public money.
>
>The way we see it, stealing is just that - no matter who commits the crime.
>
>Opponents of Wasden's proposed revision argued that elected officials 
>should
>be held to a higher standard than less-prominent employees charged with
>identical offenses because of their level of responsibility and
>accountability.
>
>That was the case in April, when the Appeals Court determined a Hagerman
>police officer couldn't be found guilty of a felony for charging personal
>expenses to a city credit card because keeping track of taxpayer money
>wasn't part of his job description.
>
>"What's the difference between putting your hand in the till, and charging
>something to a piece of plastic?" asked Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot.
>"Either way, you took money that didn't belong to you."
>
>We're taught from an early age that taking something that isn't yours is
>wrong, regardless of the circumstances.
>
>That same line of thinking should apply to the way our laws are enforced. A
>charge of any kind should not apply any differently to one person than it
>would to another.
>
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