lohmer Rep

<div>=AN 1/17...This isn’t the first time in recent months that GOP legislators have tried to push aggressively anti-free speech laws. In Washington State, Republican Senator Doug Ericksen has <a href="http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/trump-loving-gop-lawmaker-proposes-bill-define-protests-form-terrorism" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 96, 44); outline: none; font-size: 18px;">proposed a law</a> that would create “a new crime of economic terrorism” which could allow for the arrest and prosecution of any protesters who “block transportation and commerce, cause property damage, threaten jobs and put public safety at risk.” Ericksen is likely well aware of the fact that “blocking commerce” succinctly describes pretty much every protest, ever. Republican Representative Kathy Lohmer of Stillwater, Minnesota, is <a href="http://www.salon.com/2017/01/14/stopping-traffic-minnesota-lawmakers-try-increase-penalties-for-common-protest-tactic/" style="text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(241, 96, 44); outline: none; font-size: 18px;">floating a bill</a> that further criminalizes and penalizes protesting on freeways. Lohmer’s legislation would increase fines from $1,000 to $3,000 and raise jail time from 90 days to a full year.=</div><div>==</div>