Just Enough, Too Late

Perhaps the Massachusetts Senate has its heart and head right on the petition fraud in gathering signatures to advance the anti-same-sex marriage ballot initiative. In voting to criminalize bait-and-switch in the petition process, it moved forward a long-overdue step that should benefit everyone.

On the other hand, it is very likely that the damage has already been done. Thousands of fraudulent signatures will pass through the process. For future such initiatives, regardless leftish or rightsish, this is the right thing to have on the books. The new bill in the senate form would make deceiving someone into signing a petiton they would not intend to punishable by $1,000 per offense.

Of course, the House needs to pass it too.