ADIt’s that time of year again when more than half of the country’s state legislatures convene and a mountain of legislation is introduced by lawmakers. Much of it is unremarkable, but there are, every year, some bills that raise eyebrows — such as this one. ADIt’s the Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act, or House Bill 2044, which was introduced Jan. 8 into the Missouri House of Representatives by Rep. Ben Baker (R). ADBut PEN America, a nonprofit that works to defend free expression through the advancement of literature and human rights, had plenty to say. “This act is clearly aimed at empowering small groups of parents to appoint themselves as censors over their state’s public libraries.

Source: Washington Post January 15, 2020 23:48 UTC