Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the Latin phrase habeas corpus may cause people's eyes to glaze over, but the reforms in this bill begin to address what I consider to be the biggest problem in the Federal justice system, the seemingly unending string of appeals that convicted criminals may file to postpone again and again the day of final judgment. Mr. Chairman, there is no good reason for the taxpayers in my community, Cincinnati, or anywhere else to foot the bill for the John Wayne Gacys and other criminals in this world who have taken human life, innocent human life so they can play games with our legal system from their prison cells for year after year after year. There ought to come a point, Mr. Chairman, after a trial by a jury of one's peers and after going through the appeals process in the State court system and then finally the Federal court system where enough is finally enough. By moving forward on this bill, the Effective Death Penalty Act, we are fulfilling another element of the Contract With America. In doing so, we are also attempting to ensure that the death penalty is of more than academic interest to jailhouse lawyers. If the death penalty is to serve as a real deterrent, we must see that it is imposed fairly and surely--and reasonably swiftly. This bill is just a start, but it is a good start.”