Press Release
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BOLLING'S STATEMENT ON GENERAL ASSEMBLY'S ACTION ON DEATH PENALTY BILLS
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
RICHMOND-Earlier today, the General Assembly acted on Governor Kaine''s veto of two common sense expansions of the death penalty. In response, Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling released the following statement:
"I commend the General Assembly for overriding the Governor''s veto of legislation to expand capital punishment to a person who kills a judge or witnesses under subpoena in a criminal trial. This legislation will serve as an important deterrent to gang related crimes and improve public safety in Virginia.
"However, I am very disappointed that the Senate sustained the Governor''s veto of legislation that would have expanded the death penalty to accomplices of capital murder by repealing the so called triggerman rule. There are clearly cases where criminals plan and encourage the murder of other people, although they may not "pull the trigger." The death penalty should also apply to such accomplices to capital murder and I am extremely disappointed that the Governor''s veto of this legislation was sustained."
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For additional information contact Randy Marcus at 804-814-7117 (cell) or randy.marcus@ltgov.virginia.gov.
