April 8, 2003

A legislator has the right to free speech like anyone else. They also have the responsibility to act in the interests of the people, as a whole and not to act just for themselves, for a friend or group.

He does not understand what a republican democracy is and how it is to work. Assemblyman Hettrick needs to resign from his position as a legislator.

In a previous legislature, he proposed a bill which would deny a newspaper the right to freely publish photographs. He was called on it by many who said the bill could not survive a legal review by state lawyers much less a court challenge. Why? Because, his proposal was unconstitutional. He said he would go forward with the bill, and was confident that a way could be developed to create a bill limiting the first amendment. He was wrong.

In the 2003 session he seeks to limit citizen petitions because one petition against development was successful against growth in Douglas county. In his 2003 bill, he is supporting the side of developers and realtors to limit the freedoms of Nevada citizens in the petition process.

His views are parochial. He forgets the Constitution provides for citizen petitions.

He doesn't understand he represents all citizens. Laws must be written with that in mine, but he doesn't see it that way.

It is clear he is not supportive of democratic principles. He doesn't understand democracy. He needs to resign.