Political Quotes

“later this week, the House of Representatives will finally begin deliberations on anticrime legislation. As the House begins its work, the American people should ask themselves some important questions. Will the House pass a bill that devotes sufficient resources to incarceration? Last year, the Senate adopted legislation that earmarked $6.5 billion for various forms of incarceration, including $3 billion to build and operate 10 new regional prisons for the most violent offenders. Will the House match this effort, recognizing that a violent criminal kept behind bars will not terrorize a single law-abiding citizen? Will the House follow the Senate's lead and take steps to slam shut the revolving prison door by promoting truth-in-sentencing. When it comes to violent criminals, a 15-year sentence should mean just that-- 15 years. Not 5 years or 10 years. But the full sentence--no exceptions and no parole. Will the House pass a bill that stops the endless appeals that clog the court system and do so much to erode public confidence in our system of justice? Or will the House make these appeals easier, allowing criminals to escape justice by taking advantage of yet more loopholes and more technicalities? Will the House bill recognize that youthful offenders who commit a violent crime have forsaken their innocence and must be held accountable for their actions--as adults?”