Romney to file death penalty bill

[paineinthearse]

Romney to file death penalty bill
By Associated Press
Thursday, April 28, 2005 - Updated: 01:37 PM EST

BOSTON - Gov. Mitt Romney will file a death penalty bill on Thursday that he says will use DNA testing and other methods to ensure that only the guilty are executed. The move comes nearly a year after a panel appointed by the Republican governor released recommendations on how to craft foolproof death penalty legislation. Massachusetts is one of a dozen states without capital punishment.

Romney, who planned to unveil details at an afternoon news conference, said in December that his bill would limit capital punishment to the ``worst of the worst'' crimes including terrorism, the murder of police officers, murder involving torture and the killing of witnesses. He also said it would require DNA testing to protect the innocent. Capital punishment foes have said it's impossible to craft a foolproof death penalty, and any death penalty bill faces an uphill battle in the Democrat-controlled Legislature.

Even Romney has conceded that it might take another horrific crime, like the 1997 murder of 10-year-old Jeffrey Curley, to rally support for the bill among skeptical members of the House and Senate. Curley was abducted from a Cambridge street and killed by two men who later got life sentences. Public outrage fueled calls for a death penalty bill that passed easily in the state Senate. But foes defeated it by a single vote in the House. Since then the margin has grown in the House, which defeated another death penalty bill two years later by 80-73 margin.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, has voted against the death penalty in the past. Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, is also opposed to capital punishment.

http://massdems.blogspot.com/

Response by Jane Lane, Mass Dem State Party Communications Director:

It appears today that Gov. Mitt Romney is once again playing to his national neo-conservative Republican base as he unfurls a new initiative to reinstate the death penalty in this state. Support for the death penalty in Massachusetts has waned in recent years and there has been no public outcry for reinstatement. Yet, for some reason which has nothing to do with Massachusetts, Gov. Romney feels compelled to drag this subject into the public debate. The future ambitions of this governor become more transparent each day. His proposal to bring back the death penalty has everything to do with his fledgling campaign for president: It has nothing to do with improving the quality of life here in Massachusetts. I suspect that our Democratic legislators will quickly dispense with this so-called 'flawless' death penalty proposal and turn to more pressing issues that really affect the lives of families here in Massachusetts -- like funding for public education, local aid and health care initiatives.

[sam sarrha]

1. There has never been any proof of any kind that Death is a "Penalty"..

where is the proof..?? From all i hear from the fundies is that Jesus will meet them and take them to Heaven.. Ya know that they will all repent the minute before they die... and laugh all the way to heaven..

SERIOUSLY... there is not scientific, secular of nonsecular "PROOF" that death is punishment.. or Penalty

however i find it disturbing the politicians promise to kill prisoners in custody if they are elected.. that smacks of a "Blood sacrifice" to the electorate for their votes.. Does it not??
The Roman Empire used to do that stuff..

[Bombtrack]

6. "blood sacrifice" ?

I have never really thought about that and will never vote for a republican over a democrat for pretty much any reason I can think of.

I don't really care whether getting rid of capital criminals is seen as punishment by them or anybody else, other than the loved ones of victims of violent crime. I just know that by an overwhelming ratio families and friends of victims of horrible violent crimes prefer the death penalty and until I'm one of them I haven't walked in their shoes and don't deserve more BS imposed apon them by being denied by law any possibility of said punishment as seen by them.

[Kat45]

2. Of course he his.

He's been talking about it for a while. It won't go anywhere. It will just make it even more obvious that he doesn't give a shit about MA and its people, he's pandering to the neocons in the national party.

[woosh]

3. yep

[Arkana]

4. Yes, you will indeed, Mitt.

And the Democratic-dominated House and Senate will piss on it and then throw it right back in your face, you scumsucking carpetbagging assclown.

[Bombtrack]

5. WTF does support for the death penalty have to do with neocons?

Sorry I'm lost on this one.

[Mass]

7. The frightening thing is that MA people apparently fall for it

See the last statehouse poll.

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_2734082

In a survey of 400 Massachusetts residents, sponsored by the State House News Service and conducted by KRC Communications Research, 65 percent of the respondents said they support Romney's proposal, while some 32 percent opposed it.