William Hughes: “I do not have the time--under six of the aggravating factors. The gentleman from Pennsylvania would have us, under his…”

“I do not have the time--under six of the aggravating factors. The gentleman from Pennsylvania would have us, under his amendment, basically consider the elements of the offense which, I think, is going to open up the constitutional attack, so the gentleman weakens the bill. Second, Mr. Chairman, as the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer] has indicated, the gentleman from Pennsylvania would eliminate life imprisonment without parole. So, Mr. Chairman, we are going to have those situations where a jury does not want to give the discretion to the judge because they want to put him away for a number of years. A jury is going to have to make a decision as to whether to return capital punishment or give the judge that discretion. Mr. Chairman, the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Gekas] weakens the bill by what he has done, and I would urge a rejection of his amendment.”