Sen. Mark Dayton isn’t just making an empty gesture in memory of Paul Wellstone with a proposal to put some teeth back in a rule against Homeland Security contracts for tax evaders. The regulation makes sense as a way to hold corporations accountable for their choosing profit over patriotism.

The provision would withhold contracts from companies that relocate offshore to avoid paying taxes.

Wellstone was successful in his push for the amendment to the bill creating the Homeland Security Department, but after his death, the Senate watered it down with exceptions for reasons of national security, loss of U.S. jobs or additional costs to the U.S. government. Dayton wants it restored to the original Wellstone language, with an exception only in case where the president deems it necessary for national security.

To have corporations that relocate for the sole reason of avoiding their tax responsibilities earning money off U.S. taxpayers with government contracts is an insult, and Dayton is right to take over where Wellstone left off. There must be consequences for that kind of corporate behavior.

Tribune editorials represent the opinion of the newspaper’s management and editorial staff.