Political Quotes

“this amendment is modest in scope. It temporarily stays Federal death penalty prosecutions for the fiscal year 2004. I want to say that this is not an abolition of the Federal death penalty. Specifically, Mr. Chairman, it prohibits Federal funds under the act from being used in the sentencing phase of Federal death penalty cases. Mr. Chairman, there are too many mistakes that happen in the Federal judicial system. Last year, I am sure you know, a district court ruled that the Federal death penalty is unconstitutional because it does not afford defendants enough opportunity to prove their innocence. This decision was overturned by the Second Circuit, but only on legal grounds, and it shows that there is controversy over the factual accuracy of death penalty cases. In Illinois, the State that I represent, where my district is located, the former governor, the Republican governor, I might add, George Ryan, imposed an indefinite moratorium on State death penalty cases because too many defendants were being exonerated. This amendment tries to emulate what Governor Ryan did. However, it is more modest in scope, because it only lasts 1 year.”