On Monday, the Minnesota House passed an anti-bullying bill on a 72-57 vote. Post Bulletin political reporter Heather Carlson wrote in House passes sweeping anti-bullying bill:
“We should have a bill that develop resiliency in kids and makes them strong,” said Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa. "But this one goes the other direction. Instead of making kids stronger, it encourages them into a path of victimhood."
The PB editorial board disagrees in Our View: Bullied kids aren't on 'path of victimhood':
Rep. Steve Drazkowski has said some strident things during his nearly six years in the Legislature, but his repudiation of the anti-bullying bill passed by the Minnesota House might be his harshest rhetoric yet. . . .
Drazkowski, a Republican from Mazeppa, sent a disturbing message with his criticism of the Safe Schools and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act. By using the words "resiliency" and "path to victimhood," Drazkowski essentially told bullied students to toughen up because it builds character and makes you stronger.
Tell that to Ann Gettis, a Kenyon woman whose 21-year-old son took his own life in 2006. Gettis appeared before the House Education Policy Committee, testifying that "I really believe that the years of being bullied darkened his perspective." Tell that to the families of two Rochester-area teenagers who committed suicide in 2012, with bullying being a likely factor in their tragic decisions. . . .
Read the rest at the PB. The board concludes:
We've had occasion in the past to commend Drazkowski for his candor and his willingness to take unpopular stands. On this particular topic, however, he sounds a bit like a bully.
Today, Draz is stilling making heads shake. While the House was considering a bill for a legislative water commission, the Mazeppa lawmaker got a bit off topic. Representative Danny Schoen tweeted:
Rep. Drazkowski brings up gay marriage while debating a water quality issue bill.#mnleg
— Danny Schoen (@danschoen54a) May 10, 2013
Image: The legendary chocolate zombie Draz. PhotoShop by Tild.
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