Post by sclcookie on May 18, 2006 1:15:40 GMT -5
Sen. Lasee: Death Penalty Advisory Referendum Passes State Senate and
Moves to November Ballot
CONTACT: Sen. Lasee (608) 266-3512
In Madison, the State Senate has approved passage of Senate Joint
Resolution 5 (SJR 5), which will allow a non-binding advisory referendum
for reinstatement of the death penalty in Wisconsin, according to State
Senator Alan Lasee (R-De Pere), the author of the legislation.
SJR 5 provides that the following question be submitted to the voters of
this state at the November 2006 general election:
Should the death penalty be enacted in the State of Wisconsin for cases
involving a person who is convicted of 1st-degree intentional homicide, if
the conviction is supported by DNA evidence?
"I am confused as to why any legislator would be afraid of sending this
question to the voters and letting them decide," said Lasee. "I am
optimistic that a thoughtful and spirited debate on the merits of
reinstatement can now take place. This debate is what will influence
legislators when they return for the 2007 session," stated Lasee.
Lasee, who has been working on reinstating the death penalty for over 30
years, says the bill was drafted to allow legislators the opportunity to
see how their constituents feel on this issue. SJR 5 was amended in the
Assembly to move the date from the September to November of 2006 election.
Today the State Senate concurred in the amendment.
"I believe a majority of Wisconsin citizens strongly support the death
penalty and I want to thank the members of the State Senate who voted to
move this proposal to the ballot box and let their constituents have the
final say on this very important issue," concluded Lasee.
**************
Aulik Campaign: November Ballot Wrong Place for Death Penalty Discussion
Contact: Aulik for State Senate; 920-973-0992
State Senate candidate Jamie Aulik (D-Manitowoc) has released the
following statement responding to today's State Senate vote that placed an
advisory referendum regarding reinstating capital punishment on the
November 7th ballot.
"I was greatly disheartened with the outcome of today's Senate vote to
place an advisory referendum on November's ballot. Republicans are once
again focusing trying to influence Novembers election through polarizing
legislation with the goal of keeping them in the majority, while the
priorities of Wisconsins working families are ignored.
Reinstating capital punishment is a serious decision that deserves serious
discussion and consideration, which it has not adequately received in the
Legislature. What we know, and what has been ignored by the Republican
majority, are the facts: 1) the death penalty does not deter violent
crime; Texas' significantly higher murder rate is a prime example of the
death penalty as a failed deterrent. 2) The death penalty cannot guarantee
100% perfection. Even the most miniscule chance that an innocent life can
be taken is too big of a chance for a moral, modern society to take. 3) It
costs more to execute a criminal than it does to sentence them to life,
not to mention that life imprisonment forces guilty persons to think and
deal with the consequences of their actions, and 4) the Senate making this
decision today, ended the legislative session with a decision that seeks
to move Wisconsin 150 years into the past.
More importantly, at this moment, is the timing of this referendum. This
referendum will coincide with the high-profile murder trial of Steven
Avery, which is being used as the driving force and prime example for
capital punishment proponents. The trial will be in process or will have
recently ended when citizens enter the voting booth on November 7th and
emotions will be high. There will be sensational news coverage of the
trial leading up to Election Day, and it will muddy the Halbach family's
right to seek justice without their tragedy being made into political hay.
It is time that the Republican majority quit playing electoral games and
get back to focusing on what really matters to Wisconsin citizens;
affordable healthcare, real and meaningful tax relief, affordable and
quality education, and creating quality jobs. Today is another disgraceful
day, one of many this session, for responsible government in Wisconsin.
(source for both: Wispolitics.com)
Moves to November Ballot
CONTACT: Sen. Lasee (608) 266-3512
In Madison, the State Senate has approved passage of Senate Joint
Resolution 5 (SJR 5), which will allow a non-binding advisory referendum
for reinstatement of the death penalty in Wisconsin, according to State
Senator Alan Lasee (R-De Pere), the author of the legislation.
SJR 5 provides that the following question be submitted to the voters of
this state at the November 2006 general election:
Should the death penalty be enacted in the State of Wisconsin for cases
involving a person who is convicted of 1st-degree intentional homicide, if
the conviction is supported by DNA evidence?
"I am confused as to why any legislator would be afraid of sending this
question to the voters and letting them decide," said Lasee. "I am
optimistic that a thoughtful and spirited debate on the merits of
reinstatement can now take place. This debate is what will influence
legislators when they return for the 2007 session," stated Lasee.
Lasee, who has been working on reinstating the death penalty for over 30
years, says the bill was drafted to allow legislators the opportunity to
see how their constituents feel on this issue. SJR 5 was amended in the
Assembly to move the date from the September to November of 2006 election.
Today the State Senate concurred in the amendment.
"I believe a majority of Wisconsin citizens strongly support the death
penalty and I want to thank the members of the State Senate who voted to
move this proposal to the ballot box and let their constituents have the
final say on this very important issue," concluded Lasee.
**************
Aulik Campaign: November Ballot Wrong Place for Death Penalty Discussion
Contact: Aulik for State Senate; 920-973-0992
State Senate candidate Jamie Aulik (D-Manitowoc) has released the
following statement responding to today's State Senate vote that placed an
advisory referendum regarding reinstating capital punishment on the
November 7th ballot.
"I was greatly disheartened with the outcome of today's Senate vote to
place an advisory referendum on November's ballot. Republicans are once
again focusing trying to influence Novembers election through polarizing
legislation with the goal of keeping them in the majority, while the
priorities of Wisconsins working families are ignored.
Reinstating capital punishment is a serious decision that deserves serious
discussion and consideration, which it has not adequately received in the
Legislature. What we know, and what has been ignored by the Republican
majority, are the facts: 1) the death penalty does not deter violent
crime; Texas' significantly higher murder rate is a prime example of the
death penalty as a failed deterrent. 2) The death penalty cannot guarantee
100% perfection. Even the most miniscule chance that an innocent life can
be taken is too big of a chance for a moral, modern society to take. 3) It
costs more to execute a criminal than it does to sentence them to life,
not to mention that life imprisonment forces guilty persons to think and
deal with the consequences of their actions, and 4) the Senate making this
decision today, ended the legislative session with a decision that seeks
to move Wisconsin 150 years into the past.
More importantly, at this moment, is the timing of this referendum. This
referendum will coincide with the high-profile murder trial of Steven
Avery, which is being used as the driving force and prime example for
capital punishment proponents. The trial will be in process or will have
recently ended when citizens enter the voting booth on November 7th and
emotions will be high. There will be sensational news coverage of the
trial leading up to Election Day, and it will muddy the Halbach family's
right to seek justice without their tragedy being made into political hay.
It is time that the Republican majority quit playing electoral games and
get back to focusing on what really matters to Wisconsin citizens;
affordable healthcare, real and meaningful tax relief, affordable and
quality education, and creating quality jobs. Today is another disgraceful
day, one of many this session, for responsible government in Wisconsin.
(source for both: Wispolitics.com)