FELONS GAIN VOTE, ECONOMIC JUSTICE

I picked up the July 4 paper because the headline article titled
"Felons Gain Right to Vote" caught my eye, but was stymied by the
actual gist of the article. The article includes criticisms of Gov.
Vilsack's executive order, but seems to have missed the point.

The executive order expands existing voting rights to those felons
who have served their sentences but have been unable to pay their
restitution and court fees. The governor's order doesn't excuse
payment of restitution and court costs. It allows those who have paid
their debt to society a chance to participate in the process.

Arguments against the executive order center on the possibility that
now that felons can vote, they'll forgo their restitution payments.
Somehow it seems unlikely that to date, felons have been prompted to
pay because of the right to vote being held over their heads. This
executive order levels the playing field and ends this shadowy corner
of discrimination based on economic status.

Kathy Regalado

Bloomington, Minn