A story in today's Star Tribune focuses on Minnesota's sex offender treatment program. Once again, Governor Dayton and his administration are refusing to take responsibility for protecting Minnesotans from violent sex offenders.
There is no question the MSOP program needs reform. But the focus cannot be continued finger-pointing from the state's chief executive and his apparent lack of interest in doing anything other than releasing a violent serial rapist into our communities.
The only move Governor Dayton has made regarding the sex offender program in recent months has been to support the release of serial rapist Thomas Duvall. After public outrage, he decided to halt additional releases, but Duvall is still apparently on track to be set free thanks to Governor Dayton's decision. This is a decision that even DFL Attorney General Lori Swanson publicly disagrees with.
I have spent my legislative career fighting to protect our families from violent sex offenders. I was proud to author the 2004 legislation that created life sentences for violent sex offenders. I was pleased to continue that work in 2012 when we strengthened the community notification process when offenders are released into our community. As a father and public servant my number one job is to protect the people of Minnesota.
Governor Dayton accuses me and other legislators of not addressing these issues while I was Speaker. In fact, we had to address a serious public notification problem, created by Governor Dayton. In 2012 the Legislature had to declare an emergency, bring up a bill that had bipartisan support and then pass the bill that gave public notification when sex offenders were being released into halfway houses. This is a clear pattern of failed leadership by Governor Dayton of not wanting to inform the public when he wants to release violent sex offenders into our communities.
I and other members of the House Republican caucus stand ready to work with the DFL majorities and Governor Dayton to reform this program. But any reform must start with the principle that Minnesotans -- particularly women and children -- need to be protected from the violent offenders this program is designed to keep away from the general population.
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