Dems in NY Assembly kill death penalty legislation drive!!

[BurtWorm]

:woohoo:

George Pataki, out of respect for the Pope, let it die already.


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-NY-Death-Penalty.html?pagewanted=print&position=

April 12, 2005
N.Y. Legislators Kill Death Penalty Bill
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 2:43 p.m. ET

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A powerful committee of the state Assembly voted Tuesday not to send legislation aimed at reinstating New York's death penalty to the full house, a move that may effectively kill the effort for this year.

Such legislation has been pushed hard by Republican Gov. George Pataki and the state Senate's Republican majority leader, Joseph Bruno. In March, the GOP-led Senate voted 37-22 in favor of a bill almost identical to the one rejected Tuesday.

Pataki harshly criticized the 11-7 vote by the Democrat-controlled Codes Committee, saying the ``Assembly leadership's `so what' attitude toward criminals ... is simply shameful.''

New York's death penalty was reinstated in 1995 by the Legislature and Pataki, who had vowed to bring capital punishment back during the 1994 campaign when he ousted incumbent Democrat Mario Cuomo. Cuomo, in 12 years as governor, had routinely vetoed death penalty legislation.

...

[Mr.Green93]

1. 'Life in prison'

is no different than a death penalty. The maximum sentence should be twenty years. (imho)

[Beetwasher]

2. NY Is Going to Have a Dem Governor and Dems Will Win Back the State Senate

Mark my words, '06 is going to be a banner year for Dems in NY state politics.

Once we have the governorship and the Senate and Assembly under Dem control, then it's TIME TO REDISTRICT SOME REPUBS OUT OF CONGRESS!!

[BurtWorm]

3. I hope you're right about the Senate.

I'm pretty confident about the governorship, though. And Hillary will win reelection easily.

I think Bloomberg is headed for reelection too, unfortunately. The NYC Dems are not unified. Why? Actually, Joyce Purnick had an interesting and perceptive piece on the process in yesterday's Times. She says Sharpton and Rangel are backing the stadium and Fields over Ferrer because they, too, think Bloomberg is going to win and they don't want Ferrer in office in four years when William Thompson will probably run.

[Beetwasher]

4. Bloomberg is Not Very Popular Here In NYC

I don't see him winning against any halfway decent candidate even w/ his bank account. He's been a total nothing of a mayor...Thompson should run now, I think he could beat Bloomberg...But the dark horse is.....Gifford Miller...This guy is young, bright, charismatic and ambitious, though I'm not sure he can marshall the funding and resources yet for a real serious run...

That's IS an intersting piece though..Good insight into the possible wrangling and deal making behind the scenes! Thanks!

[BurtWorm]

5. Rangel was saying just that in a Times article last week.

And yet, he went on to say that none of the Democratic contenders was sounding like he or she had the spark. I don't know. I blew a chance to go to a mayoral forum a couple of weeks ago, so I can't say what any of them are sounding like to me. I'd hate to see a repeat of the last two elections, with either a weakling place-holder put up or with the Dems murdering each other before the general election. I'm afraid scenario one is looking likely.

[Beetwasher]

6. Yeah, I Know What You Mean

I don't like the idea of the Dems holding back and just letting Bloomberg essentially have it...