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California Democrats on Thursday rejected Republican-backed efforts to promote policies to increase penalties for recruiting and purchasing genders from 16 and 17-year-olds.
Republicans argued for floor policy after the Legislative Committee removed it from the bill earlier this week.
“That’s a simple thing before us. Do children aged 16 and 17 deserve the same protection as all other minors in regards to child prostitution?” Republican minority leader James Gallagher added before the vote, “This body needs a moral compass.”
The move was supported by several moderate Democrats who said buying sex from teens should be a felony. Congressional Speaker Robert Rivas said in a statement after the vote that California already has some of the strongest laws against human trafficking, and lawmakers are committed to protecting children. Democrats supported the amendment that they plan to “adopt the strongest laws to protect victims aged 16 and 17.”
“Protecting children, standing up for victims of human trafficking and stopping crime is one of my top priorities as a speaker,” Rivas said.
This is the latest example of the division among Democrats about the best ways to crack down on crime and punish criminals. Some moderate Democrats want to see more severe punishments to protect more children, while others say the measure could be misused by being upset about interracial or LGBTQ+ relationships to target older teens involved in the relationship. Newsom often refuses to squeeze pending laws, but has been intervening for years to advance child trafficking measures.
“The law should address all sexual predators who solicit minors as felonies, regardless of the intended victim’s age. A complete suspension,” his office said in a statement.
Maggie Krell, a Democrat with a background in prosecutors, wanted to expand the law he signed last year to seduce older teens for sex and make it an automatic felony for those who buy it. Current laws that can lead to felony if the victim is under the age of 16 are not fully advanced and leave loopholes for teens, supporters of the measure said.
This week, Democrats from the Congressional Public Safety Commission said they needed more time to study the issue. They went ahead with Krell’s bill this week without provisions for teens. On Thursday, they removed her name from the law.
“I don’t care if my name is in the bill or not, but I’m happy to be able to support it if it includes protections for 16 and 17,” Krell said before the vote. Krell was one of a small group of Democrats who had a taste for Republicans.
Last year Senate Democrats rejected similar efforts to increase penalties for recruiting teens.
Republicans have seized the moment they win the Democratic agenda, protecting predators and accusing them of not contacting voters.
“The message sent in today’s ballot is that it’s the open season for California’s 16- and 17-year-old minors for sex traffickers,” Republican Rep. Carl DeMaio said after the vote.
First partners, Jennifer Sebel Newsom, Lt. Col. Eleni Kunarakis, and Christine Pelosi, daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, took her to social media in support of the proposal.
“As a mother of a 16-year-old, I believe that buying 100% should be a felony,” Christine Pelosi said in a post on Social Platform X, directed at Democrats. “In what world do you think voters trust the party that buys a 16-year-old child is the “only” misdemeanor? ”
Congressional Public Safety Commission Chairman Nick Schultz said contacting minors for sex is already a California felony. The proposal would have added another tool to law enforcement to enhance the text.
Schultz said he is planning to get the measure back now after lawmakers have had the opportunity to discuss more in the coming weeks.
“There’s a solution,” Schultz said. “That’s my commitment.”
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