Rick Lazio on Crime

Former Republican/Conservative Representative (NY-2)

Limit death-row legal challenges

On the Death penalty. Lazio voted to limit the ability of death-row inmates to challenge their sentence in federal court. Source: David Rosenbaum, New York Times Jun 4, 2000

Tort Reform: Limit product liability damages

On Litigation. Lazio voted to limit punitive damages in product liability cases. Source: David Rosenbaum, New York Times Jun 4, 2000

Law enforcement is a fundamental govt responsibility

One of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to ensure that the laws are enforced and that people are secure in their persons and property. The federal government can be an effective partner with state and local government to ensure that our rights and freedoms are protected. Source: Issues Briefing, www.lazio.com May 4, 2000

Jennifer’s Law: help identify deceased children

[Jennifer’s Law, a bill by Lazio] will help thousands of families across the country by giving them at least the peace of mind of knowing the fate of their children. The funds that Jennifer’s Law will bring to the states can help eliminate the cruel phrase ‘unidentified deceased’ from our vocabulary. Jennifer’s Law is designed to bring an end to the purgatory of the unknown. By signing this bill today we restore the dignity of identity to the victims, and give families the closure they deserve. Source: Speech at ceremony for Child Abuse Prevention & Enforcement Mar 10, 2000

More prisons; stricter sentencing; death penalty

Broaden use of the death penalty for federal crimes.
Increase spending to build more federal prisons.
Impose “truth in sentencing” for violent criminals so they serve full sentences with no chance of parole.
Expand funding for community policing programs.
Prosecute youths accused of a felony as adults.
Deport all permanent resident aliens convicted of a felony.

Source: National Political Awareness Test 1998 (vote-smart.org) Jul 2, 1998

Voted NO on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Vote on an amendment that would reduce the funding for violent offender imprisonment by and truth-in-sentencing programs by $61 million. The measure would increase funding for Boys and Girls Clubs and drug courts by the same amount. Reference: Amendment sponsored by Scott, D-VA; Bill HR 4690 ; vote number 2000-317 on Jun 22, 2000

Voted YES on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.

Vote to pass a bill to appropriate $1.5 billion to all of the states that want to improve their juvenile justice operations. Among other provisions this bill includes funding for development, implementation, and administration of graduated sanctions for juvenile offenders, funds for building, expanding, or renovating juvenile corrections facilities, hiring juvenile judges, probation officers, and additional prosecutors for juvenile cases. Reference: Bill introduced by McCollum, R-FL; Bill HR 1501 ; vote number 1999-233 on Jun 17, 1999

Voted NO on maintaining right of habeas corpus in Death Penalty Appeals.

Vote on an amendment to delete provisions in the bill that would make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts ['Habeas Corpus']. Bill HR 2703 ; vote number 1996-64 on Mar 14, 1996

Voted YES on making federal death penalty appeals harder.

Vote on a bill to make it harder for prisoners who have been given the death penalty in state courts to appeal the decision on constitutional grounds in the federal courts. Bill HR 729 ; vote number 1995-109 on Feb 8, 1995

Voted NO on replacing death penalty with life imprisonment.

Amendment to replace death penalty crimes in the 1994 Omnibus Crime Bill with life imprisonment. Bill HR 4092 ; vote number 1994-107 on Apr 14, 1994

Stricter sentencing for hate crimes.

Lazio co-sponsored stricter sentencing for hate crimes

Congressional Summary:

To make sentencing guidelines for Federal criminal cases that provide sentencing enhancements for hate crimes.
Amends the Federal judicial code to require the U.S. Sentencing Commission to:
promulgate or amend existing guidelines to provide for sentencing enhancements of not less than three offense levels for offenses that the finder of fact at trial determines beyond a reasonable doubt are hate crimes; and
assure reasonable consistency with other guidelines, avoid duplicative punishments for substantially the same offense, and take into account any mitigating circumstances that might justify exceptions.

Proponents' Argument in Favor:Rep. SENSENBRENNER. This bill does not create a new Federal crime. Nothing that is presently not criminal now would be made criminal as a result of enactment. What enactment of H.R. 1152 will do is provide for enhanced criminal penalties for certain specifically designated hate crimes. As used in the bill, the term hate crime is defined as a Federal crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation of the person. Hate crimes are more serious offenses and often result in a greater level of injury to the victim and to society.

Source: Hate Crimes Sentencing Enhancement Act (H.R.1152) 1993-H1152 on Mar 1, 1993

More prisons, more enforcement, effective death penalty.

Lazio signed the Contract with America:

[As part of the Contract with America, within 100 days we pledge to bring to the House Floor the following bill]:

The Taking Back Our Streets Act:
An anti-crime package including stronger truth in sentencing, “good faith” exclusionary rule exemptions, effective death penalty provisions, and cuts in social spending from this summer’s crime bill to fund prison construction and additional law enforcement to keep people secure in their neighborhoods and kids safe in their schools.

Source: Contract with America 93-CWA4 on Sep 27, 1994

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