California state Sen. Shannon Grove, a Republican, blasted her Democratic colleagues for weakening a bill that would make buying a child for sex a felony offense.
The California bill, which Grove introduced in February, would have made soliciting a minor for sex a felony with the potential for up to four years of prison time, a fine of up to $25,000, and required those convicted to register as sex offenders.
Democrats on the state Senate’s Public Safety Committee passed amendments to the bill last Wednesday without Grove’s approval.
The changes would drop prison time upon conviction to a maximum of one year in jail and reduce the charge to a misdemeanor if the child was 16 or 17.
“When I was standing at that podium I was shocked at what was happening, and I said, ‘Are you forcing these amendments on me?’ And the chair said, ‘Yes.’ And the…
