The bill before us would impose a stiffer penalty if the violation of our public accommodations law was malicious.

“What does that mean?” asked the representatives of restaurant owners and small businesses as they testified in opposition to the bill.

I was tempted to respond by saying that Justice Scalia would rely upon the dictionary definition of malicious – its plain meaning.

But then the restaurant spokesman said that there was a bill before the Congress that would set a reasonable requirement for structural changes to meet the needs of customers with a disability.

“Is that bill supported by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights?” I asked.

The witness knew that the business community supported the bill but didn’t know about the Leadership Conference’s position.

I’ll find out before my subcommittee acts on House Bill 935.

Better to rely upon my liberal roots than my conservative baseball friend, Justice Scalia.