ACTION ALERT: If you support the death penalty in Texas, please call your state representative today and ask them to oppose HJR 24 and HB 877.
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Texas State Representative Elliott Naishtat (D – District 49) has authored HJR 24, which proposes a constitutional amendment relating to a moratorium on the execution of persons convicted of capital offenses.
Mr. Naishtat is rabidly anti-death penalty, despite the fact that 3 out of 4 Texans (74 percent) support the death penalty and want the state to continue executing those convicted of capital murder.
HJR 24 has been assigned to the Criminal Jurisprudence committee, and is scheduled for public hearing today at the Capitol in Austin.
If you support the death penalty, please call your state representative today and ask them to oppose HJR 24. (If you are not sure who your state representative is or how to contact them, you can look here: http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ ).
Another Study, Another Waste of Tax Dollars
Additionally, Rep. Naishtat has also introduced another bill, designed solely to waste Texas tax payer money.
HB 877 proposes the creation of a commission to study capital punishment in Texas. Something that has been studied nearly to death already. All that Rep. Naishtat wants to do is find a study that supports his belief that capital punishment is 1) biased against black people, 2) biased against brown people, 3) biased against the poor, 4) cruel and unusual punishment.
The United States Supreme Court as Well has more than clearly enough ruled that capital punishment is Constitutional. And the people of Texas have more than clearly enough expressed their support of the death penalty.
Any “study” that Rep Naishtat wants to throw together would amount to nothing more than a waste of tax payer dollars.
When you call your state representative to voice your opposition to HJR 24, tell them that you also want them to oppose HB 877 because it’s a waste of our tax dollars.
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I was looking at news from some of these small island nations in the West Indies. St Kitts, Domenica, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and others – haven’t had time to investigate them all.
They’ve had the dp on the books for a while and now they are using it. The elected officials support it and the people support it. It’s quite encouraging.
Why is this a big surprise?
Elliot Naishtat and District 49 are in what city Robbie?
This is just more from the “keep it weird” and the 78704 crowd!
Called Representatives Madden and McCall at their Capitol offices and left a message for each of them, along with my contact information.
HB 877 is nothing like what you’ve described. Your readers should understand that you have completely confused the point of the Naishtat bill. Not only does it have nothing to do with abolishing the death penalty, there’s not even an oblique reference to unequal justice among races in death penalty administration.
Let’s talk about your selective use of statistics. The same study you point to showing support for the death penalty (which, to emphasize, is not even an issue raised by HB 877) in fact shows public support for the apparent aim of the Naishtat bill. Of the respondents to the 2007 survey who reported that they were familiar with the adult justice system only 48 percent of the respondents expressed “a great deal” or even “some” confidence in the adult criminal justice system. As the article you link to states, “These findings show that most Texans are growing increasingly concerned about the general quality of justice being delivered in Texas,” said Dennis R. Longmire, director of the Survey Research Program and author of the study.
The basic thrust of the legislation is to study the justice process and recommend potential improvements to ensure greater justice.
I don’t know if you’ve purposely not told the truth about HB 877, or if you haven’t read it, or just don’t have the acuity to comprehend the issues, but the misinformation you’ve presented is discouraging to read. If you’re just too lazy to go to the House website and read the text of the bill, here it is, cut and pasted.
HB 877
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a commission to study capital
punishment in Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 37.15 to read as follows:
Art. 37.15. TEXAS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT COMMISSION
Sec. 1. CREATION. The Texas Capital Punishment Commission
is created.
Sec. 2. DUTIES. (a) The commission shall study capital
punishment in this state, concentrating particularly on:
(1) addressing issues related to the legal
representation of indigent inmates in capital cases;
(2) identifying aspects of the capital punishment
process that need improving, if any, including the manner in which
law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in this
state investigate, prosecute, and handle appeals of capital cases
and the ability of new technologies, including DNA testing, to
increase the reliability of convictions in capital cases; and
(3) establishing safeguards that ensure that law
enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system in this state
fairly and accurately investigate, prosecute, and handle appeals of
capital cases.
(b) In conducting the study under Subsection (a), the
commission may use the American Bar Association publication, “Death
Without Justice: A Guide for Examining the Administration of the
Death Penalty in the United States.”
(c) After completing the study, the commission shall
propose legislation to correct any inequities in the capital
punishment process in this state. Legislation proposed under this
subsection must be designed to ensure that the application and
administration of capital punishment in this state are just, fair,
and accurate.
Sec. 3. COMPOSITION. (a) The commission is composed of the
following 11 members:
(1) the executive director of the Texas District and
County Attorneys Association or the executive director’s designee;
(2) the executive director of the Texas Criminal
Defense Lawyers Association or the executive director’s designee;
(3) the executive director of Justice for All or the
executive director’s designee;
(4) the executive director of Murder Victims’ Families
for Reconciliation or the executive director’s designee;
(5) two members appointed by the governor;
(6) two members appointed by the lieutenant governor,
one of whom must be a former appellate level judge recommended by
the Texas Judicial Council;
(7) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(8) one member appointed by the dean of the law school
at The University of Texas at Austin; and
(9) one member appointed by the dean of the law school
at Texas Tech University.
(b) Each member of the commission must be generally
experienced in criminal justice matters.
(c) Each appointed member serves at the pleasure of the
official by whom the member is appointed.
(d) The governor shall designate a member to serve as
presiding officer.
Sec. 4. REIMBURSEMENT. A member of the commission may not
receive compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the
member’s travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government
Code, and the General Appropriations Act.
Sec. 5. ASSISTANCE. The Texas Legislative Council and the
Legislative Budget Board shall assist the commission in performing
the commission’s duties.
Sec. 6. SUBMISSION. The commission shall submit the
proposed legislation described by Section 2(c) to the lieutenant
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives not later
than January 1, 2011.
Sec. 7. INITIAL APPOINTMENTS. The governor, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
deans of the law schools at The University of Texas at Austin and
Texas Tech University shall make the appointments to the commission
not later than the 31st day after the effective date of this
article.
Sec. 8. OTHER LAW. The commission is not subject to Chapter
2110, Government Code.
Sec. 9. ABOLITION. The commission is abolished on January
1, 2011, and this article expires on that date.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
Eddie: It’s exactly like Robbie described it. The only one who hasn’t purposely told the truth about HB 877 is you. Or, maybe you haven’t read it or don’t have the acuity to comprehend the issues?
Personally, I think you’re just a liar.
More bullshit. Yes, it is disputable. There are not major problems in the state’s criminal justice system. And the public defenders are very good. I hate to break the news to you but most public defender clients are guilty. Worse, they get the heavy client, i.e., the one most clearly guilty. Still, they more than adequately defend their clients. Stop bashing people about things you don’t have a clue about.
Oh, ok, anonymous, you’ve dragged it out of me and I’m forced to agree (note the sarcasm), most are guilty. We don’t have a disagreement about that. It’s an obvious statement. But just like the original post, you’ve failed to address the actual point of the question. Is a non sequitur the best argument you can make?
In the law of unintended consquences, if Texas were to abolish the death penalty, the number of Euroslime DP Groupies would all move on to other states…
Sam, you have just given the only reason I would consider supporting the repeal of the dp.
Maybe those skanks would move on to The Magic Kingdom(SA), or even Iran.
Eddie: I addressed the point: you are a liar. And you owe Robbie and apology. Until then, eff off.
You have to admit, they’re like a little industry. They have their favorite airline and motels and guess houses. lol
You mean speak up for people who really are denied rights? No chance! Skanks need boytoys. Skanks need poloroids. Skanks need fiances.
HB 877 is nothing like what you’ve described.
Left by Eddie on March 19th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
Now ya’ll, Eddie is exactly right. It is nothing like what Robbie described. It goes way beyond.
So Eddie, you grand genius, You take a bunch of non-governmental anti-DP groups, put them on a ‘commission’ (quasi-government), legitimize them in the name of ‘fairness’, in the name of ‘study’ what do you get? I mean beyond the obvious back-door attempt to circumvent the voting populations will? You get just what Robbie said. Congrats, your the first useful idiot to irritate me today.
And why not a Commission To Speed Things Up? I would sit in on that commission! Clear up that little thing called death row in a week……
A Commission to Speed things up? Brilliant. I’m going to find a Representative to back this idea…hell, I’ll author the bill to propose the committee. Once we receive our millions of dollars to fund the study, I’ll volunteer to chair the committee (for a fair price, of course).
I would gladly devote my time to such a worthy committee, also.
Please count me in also. What’s the problem a person does the crime that person should pay. Where’s my grant money?
Artruen, you’re apparently lliterate. The bill has provides 11 members on a committee, only 2 of which would be affiliated with the defense side of the balance. The rest of the members would come from gov’t., including prosecutors, as well as a victim’s family group.
Robbie, you should change the title of your post to Robbie Cooper Lies and Writes Nonsense to Waste Our Time.
If you want credibility, you’re going to have to deal with facts and reality. If you ever decide to participate in the reality based world, please post an update on Austin bloggers so I can be notified. Otherwise I won’t again be tempted to read your ill-informed ramblings.
Eddie, stop lying. There are only 2 positions guaranteed to be filled by those who support the death penalty. And we know how you anti death penalty loons love to stack the court.
You need to start signing your posts: Eddie, The Thug Lover Liar Drops in To Tell More Lies and Waste Our Time.
You are the one who lacks all credibility, pal. We weren’t born yesterday. We know how these commissions work. The minor decline in confidence in the DP that you rely on is based on the constant lies about it spewed by people like you.
Last night I was listening to a DA from California talk about a case he just finished where the defendant was convicted and sentenced to death for the arson fire that burnt 41,000 acres, destroyed 34 homes, and murdered 5 firefighters. The defendant was starting fires all summer long and his family knew about it but never turned him in.
The DA said the firefighters died when 500 acres spontaneously burst into flames. While the firefighters were outside this area, they didn’t stand a chance because the fire acts like a blow torch.
And to hear jerks whine that we don’t have the right to execute these people and that these worthless pos lives have value, makes me sick.
Anonymous – your stupidity is amazing but not surprising. After all, you are a devoted follower of a political party led by a tax cheating plumber, a failed top 40 radio dj who’s now a pill popping drug addict, and a 14 year old boy. I know there are many R’s hoping for an infusion of bright, knowledgeable people into the party but if you, Cooper and the rest of the turd-for-brains who regularly post here are indicative, the R’s are going to have to wait at least another generation, for yours is lost.
Ahhh, the BDS leftard finally shows his plumage.
Just another liberal hack that is barely literate, while claiming others are.
Another moonbat wearing an ass-hat.
Good ole eddie must of gone back and read his post and realized what a fool he is, threw a tantrum and left. I suppose being a useful idiot is being something.
I guess eddie hasn’t looked in the mirror lately of his own party of worthless librat slimes.
I love how eddie thinks he can show up here, insult people, lie about the bill, and expect people to kiss his ass. He’ll show up again. Jerks like him can’t keep away.
This should make eddie cry: Jeffery Wood loses appeal
Let the weeinie-wailing begin!