Bolling & McDonnell Blast Kaine on Death Penalty

Bolling:

RICHMOND - Earlier today, Governor Tim Kaine announced that he had vetoed legislation to expand the death penalty in Virginia .  In response to the Governor’s announcement, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling issued the following statement: 

“I am extremely disappointed in Governor Kaine’s decision to veto legislation that would have expanded the death penalty to accomplices of capitol murder by repealing the so called triggerman rule, and to persons who kill witnesses under subpoena in a criminal trial.   These bills, approved by bi-partisan majorities in the Senate and House of Delegates, are logical and appropriate extensions of the death penalty to a group of killers whose actions warrant the maximum punishment allowed by law.

“My support for this legislation arose out of conversations I had over the past year with law enforcement officials and Commonwealth’s Attorneys who feel that these bills would be an important deterrent to gang related crimes that are increasing at a rapid rate in many parts of our state.  Unfortunately, Governor Kaine missed an excellent opportunity to address gang violence and make Virginians safer.  It is my hope that the members of the General Assembly will vote to override these vetoes when they return to Richmond on April 4^th.”

McDonnell:

Richmond- Attorney General Bob McDonnell released the following statement today regarding Governor Kaine’s veto of House Bill 2750, House Bill 2347, House Bill 2348, Senate Bill 1116, and Senate Bill 1288, bills regarding the death penalty in Virginia .

“I am very disappointed with Governor Kaine’s decision to veto several important public safety bills regarding the death penalty in Virginia. I respect the Governor’s authority to exercise the veto, but the interests of justice and public safety demand that these bills be passed into law.

The first bill vetoed, eliminating the Virginia provision that only the “triggerman” is subject to capital punishment, would have allowed Virginia’s courts to impose the death penalty upon active participants in the most heinous murders, who shared the exact same intent to kill as the “triggerman”, and who were present, aiding and abetting in the crime.  This important legislation was supported by the Crime Commission, by Virginia’s locally elected prosecutors and by me, and was passed by a more than two-thirds vote of the General Assembly.

There are important practical law enforcement reasons to pass this bill. Beltway sniper John Muhammad might have escaped the death penalty, had he not also qualified under another capital murder provision. Similarly, Ray Dandridge was able to escape the ultimate punishment for his role in the Tucker-Baskerville murders in Richmond, because his specific role in suffocating the three victims could not be proven, even though his intimate involvement in the crimes was clear. Justice requires equal punishment for equal culpability.

The other bills would have added the killing of a judge, as well as the killing of a witness, to Virginia’s death penalty provisions. Judges and witnesses are critical to the administration of justice and they often put themselves at great personal risk. All citizens are safer because of their service. It is sound policy that we make it the law that the murder of a judge or a witness is punishable by the most serious penalty in our criminal justice system.

Therefore, I urge the General Assembly to override the Governor’s veto on these pieces of legislation.”

Comments

[asmith]

I'm sure they were ready to go with these, knowing Randy Marcus and Tucker Martin. The GA will override his veto, and this gives Dems something to separate themselves from the Governor on.

But at least the Governor is sticking to his principles. He's always said he would enforce the laws, but he's against new death penalty laws. I thought sticking to your principles no matter what the opposition or voters think had some kind of value to you Republicans.

[Chris]

Well I consider protecting judges and witnesses in criminal cases a principle pretty high-up on my list.

And if he were REALLY anti-death penalty, why doesn't he commute the sentences?

[brimur]

Ya see Chris, Tim Kaine has this little thing called integrity, he was elected to enforce the laws and though he opposes the death penalty, he took an oath to "faithfully and impartially discharge all the duties incumbent upon" him. Injecting his personal morality would qualify as partiality.

[Chris]

Well Brimur, when a sniper guns down a judge and doesn't get the DP, I'll be sure to remind the victims about Tim Kaine's "integrity."

[brimur]

You're talking about two different things Chris. I wasn't commenting on his decision to veto these expansions of capital punishment, I was responding to your comment: "And if he were REALLY anti-death penalty, why doesn't he commute the sentences?"

[Ghost of A.L. Philpott]

OH, BS. When a sniper guns down a judge theres a good chance he'd get the death penalty either way. The only other alternative would likely be rotting away in prison for the rest of his life. Either way, this was pure politics to say that R's were "tough on crime".