Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993 TAG: 9308120161
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
"The first duty of any government is to try to keep its citizens safe," Clinton said.
The proposals, negotiated in advance with congressional leaders, state attorneys general and prosecutors, are aimed at breaking a logjam that prevented passage of anti-crime legislation last year.
A crime bill passed both houses of Congress last year only to die in the closing days of the session amid partisan rancor.
Clinton's package still could be blocked over the so-called Brady bill, which calls for a waiting period for gun purchases. That bill - named for former President Reagan's press secretary, James Brady, who was wounded in the 1981 assassination attempt - faces a filibuster from Senate Republicans, who have vowed to fight it.
As a sign of bipartisanship, White House officials invited two Republican senators - William Cohen of Maine and Larry Pressler of South Dakota - to Clinton's announcement. Republican leader Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas, who has harshly criticized many other Clinton proposals, issued a relatively supportive statement about the crime initiative, claiming Clinton's proposals "follow the Republican lead."
In part to speed the process, Clinton will not craft his own legislation but will support bills already introduced by House and Senate Democratic leaders.
The bills, similar to last year's, contain some new elements.
For one, they would limit the federal appeals a death-row inmate can file.
In return for restricting appeals, the government would require states to guarantee that death-row defendants are represented by attorneys at every stage of the process - something many states do not now do. The lawyers would have to meet minimum competency standards and would have to be paid a "reasonable" fee.
by CNB