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Stanley outraged by initiative scrapping immunity
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Posted on Apr 03 2008
A lawmaker known for his stinging speeches on the House floor has protested a proposal to remove a constitutional clause protecting legislators from being sued for their statements during session.
Rep. Stanley T. Torres said the legislative initiative would prevent all important information from getting to the public and inhibit discussion on the floor.
“It’s plain stupidity,” he said in a letter to Speaker Arnold I. Palacios. “I trust the general public will reject this initiative as it is against its best interest, and vote in favor of full and frank discussion on the House floor.”
Rep. Victor Hocog introduced the initiative following a debate in the House over the appointment of Kimberlyn King-Hinds to the Public Utilities Commission. During that debate, Torres accused King-Hinds lying to the Legislature about her qualifications and affiliations.
Prior to this incident, Torres had also delivered speeches with personal attacks against former DPS Commissioner Rebecca Warfield, Attorney General Matthew Gregory, and Assistant Attorney General Mike Nisperos, among others.
Hocog’s initiative states that lawmakers should not be allowed to “hide behind the immunity granted to insult constituents. The people of the Commonwealth should not have to wonder which person will be slandered next when the Legislature meets in session.”
But Torres argued that the immunity was put in place “not just to promote candor, [but also] to protect those who would raise uncomfortable questions about government appointments, bring up embarrassing facts about government misdeeds, point out misfeasance by government employees, or simply to challenge the status quo.”
