Kweisi Mfume: “Let me just say as we close this debate that the argument by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. McCollum] carries merit. I…”

“Let me just say as we close this debate that the argument by the gentleman from Florida [Mr. McCollum] carries merit. I believe, also, that you can make sensible arguments on both sides of this issue, and you can be looked at as being laughable on both sides of this issue. Mr. Chairman, what we are saying with our amendment is to take this burden off the taxpayers, millions of dollars wasted in appeal after appeal after appeal instead of giving somebody life without parole, using that money in the criminal justice system to enforce the law and to take care of others who are breaking the law. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his support of the amendment and I thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. McCollum] as well.”