TX- Gov. Perry vetoes 37 bills, including 'Romeo and Juliet'

It is quite clear that the last thing Perry wants is, to place logic in the hands of the court. i.e., a judge to decide what is right under the circumstances of a case. Perry wants the control in the legislature so that "vengenance is mine" -Perry's theme, is strickly enforced...

6-20-2009 Texas:

Relevant portions of article follow:

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry on Friday vetoed a "Romeo and Juliet" sex offender measure along with 36 other bills passed by the Legislature this year – including bicyclist protection legislation and a partial ban on toll road ads by the state Transportation Department. .......

The Romeo-and-Juliet legislation by Rep. Todd Smith, R-Euless, easily passed the House and Senate, which considered it a "teenage lovers" bill.

It would have allowed defendants to petition a judge to exempt them as a registered sex offender under strict guidelines, including that the age-based offense was consensual. In addition, the victim would have had to be at least 13 and the defendant no more than four years older than the victim.

In his veto message, the governor said while the proposal "was intended to more narrowly define who could seek a court's exemption from sex offender registration, I believe the bill fails to adequately protect young victims." ....... ..Source.. by TERRENCE STUTZ / The Dallas Morning News