John Doolittle: “I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 4092, the House crime bill. I have no reservations about my ``nay'' vote…”

“I rise today to express my opposition to H.R. 4092, the House crime bill. I have no reservations about my ``nay'' vote, although I realize that many Americans want crime legislation passed. Mr. Chairman, the crime bill before the House is anemic. It reflects the enormous differences that exist between conservatives and liberals with regard to man, the State, and yes, criminal justice. The Clinton administration, most notably Attorney General Janet Reno, believes that everybody is equally good. If a 22-year-old delinquent brutally rapes and murders an innocent victim, he is not a bad person who needs to be jailed for life or sentenced to death. Rather, we are told to look at the root causes of the criminal's behavior. We are told that society is failing these poor criminals. To deter crime, the liberals say, the Federal Government needs to provide every American with a high-paying job, self-esteem, and adequate recreational opportunities. If you don't believe me, look at the House crime bill. It includes a Great Society-style provision that calls for spending mainly on social welfare programs. It provides $6.9 billion in grants to crime-prone areas for recreation, job training, and other activities. The bill provides grants for after-school programs for inner-city youth and for midnight basketball games. My opposition to this bill was not sealed, however, until yesterday, when the House failed to strike the Racial Justice Act from the legislation.”