The state Senate has approved legislation which would allow prosecutors to seek life without parole against convicted killers without first pursuing the death penalty. Under current law, prosecutors may not obtain a sentence of life without parole unless they first seek the death penalty.
Preston Smith, a Rome Republican, says such capital trials are time-consuming and costly.
The bill now moves to the state House.
(Associated Press)
Showing posts with label prosecutors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prosecutors. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Change To Death Penalty Law
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
The midyear budget: winners and losers
When Governor Sonny Perdue signed the midyear budget Tuesday, he admitted it helped some state agencies but hurt others.
"I've been trying to persuade my legislative brethren [who write the budget] there were unmet needs and these things would happen," Perdue told reporters. "Bad decisions have consequences."
The consequences will be felt strongly by the following "losers" in the 2007 amended budget:
Prosecuting Attorneys Council Executive Director Richard Malone says the budget shortchanges district attorneys' offices by $1.2 million.
Malone says every employee, except the district attorneys, will be furloughed without pay for up to six days.
"The DAs themselves will be okay," Malone said. "It's the younger and the less financially stable folks—meaning those that get paid a lot less—that are going to suffer the most."
Malone worries that line prosecutors and staff will become discouraged and go job-hunting elsewhere.
Adult basic education teachers are in an even worse bind: they could be furloughed for an entire month because the Department of Technical Education did not receive the $800,000 it needs for salaries in June.
Spokesman Mike Light says the department is seeking other sources of money.
"If we're going to do anything to save the people and keep them on their jobs," Light says, "It would have to be local funds from the college level or somewhere else."
About 96,000 students are in the programs that could be suspended. They include high-school dropouts in GED classes, and immigrants learning English.
On the other hand, here are some "winners":
Administrators of the cash-strapped Peachcare child health program are relieved. They will receive up to $81 million to reimburse providers.
But, they will not lift the freeze on enrollment until October or later, according to Mark Trail, who oversees the program.
Trail says state officials want to make sure that Congress reauthorizes the program and changes its federal funding formula.
About 284,000 children from low-wage and middle-class families use Peachcare.
Finally, the budget brings good news for public schools. They will get $164 million to pay teachers and school nurses.
"I've been trying to persuade my legislative brethren [who write the budget] there were unmet needs and these things would happen," Perdue told reporters. "Bad decisions have consequences."
The consequences will be felt strongly by the following "losers" in the 2007 amended budget:
Prosecuting Attorneys Council Executive Director Richard Malone says the budget shortchanges district attorneys' offices by $1.2 million.
Malone says every employee, except the district attorneys, will be furloughed without pay for up to six days.
"The DAs themselves will be okay," Malone said. "It's the younger and the less financially stable folks—meaning those that get paid a lot less—that are going to suffer the most."
Malone worries that line prosecutors and staff will become discouraged and go job-hunting elsewhere.
Adult basic education teachers are in an even worse bind: they could be furloughed for an entire month because the Department of Technical Education did not receive the $800,000 it needs for salaries in June.
Spokesman Mike Light says the department is seeking other sources of money.
"If we're going to do anything to save the people and keep them on their jobs," Light says, "It would have to be local funds from the college level or somewhere else."
About 96,000 students are in the programs that could be suspended. They include high-school dropouts in GED classes, and immigrants learning English.
On the other hand, here are some "winners":
Administrators of the cash-strapped Peachcare child health program are relieved. They will receive up to $81 million to reimburse providers.
But, they will not lift the freeze on enrollment until October or later, according to Mark Trail, who oversees the program.
Trail says state officials want to make sure that Congress reauthorizes the program and changes its federal funding formula.
About 284,000 children from low-wage and middle-class families use Peachcare.
Finally, the budget brings good news for public schools. They will get $164 million to pay teachers and school nurses.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
No special session: Perdue strikes property tax cut before signing budget
Gov. Sonny Perdue used his line-item veto power Tuesday to strike a tax cut before signing the 2007 amended budget, which contains emergency funding for education and the Peachcare child health plan.
Perdue's action reverses his earlier veto of the entire budget, which dictates state spending until July. He said this was not what he had wanted to do. He had hoped to call lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session on the midyear budget, but ruled it out after meeting resistance from House leaders.
"It would've been tough on the members of the House and Senate, who are citizen-legislators, to come back not knowing how long that would be," Perdue said. "It would've been a show of power. It would've been futile."
Perdue denies his decision is a personal rebuke to House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who accused Perdue of showing lawmakers "his backside" by vetoing the budget. Richardson, who was once Perdue’s House floor leader, now uses softer words.
"Sometimes friends disagree, but the House will not compromise when it comes to defending the taxpayers of Georgia," he said in a written statement. He expressed disappointment that Perdue has vetoed $142 million one-time tax credit for property owners.
"The House still believes that if we can't all agree on how to spend the money, the best thing to do is to return it to the people who sent it to us," he said. "We would rather have it go back to the taxpayers than be hoarded for the government to spend another day."
But by striking the tax cut from the budget, Perdue says the money will enable the state to prop up its reserves at a time when economic growth is slowing.
"I think it's prudent at this time to be fiscally conservative," he said.
House leaders contend the reserves are in good shape now. Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter says he can't support the governor's decision.
"Aside from the fact that it's vetoing a tax cut, trying to understand how you can veto legislation, after sending out a press release and line-item veto something that’s a portion of what you already vetoed."
Burkhalter says House members are considering their next move, and they still want a tax cut.
Perdue's decision won praise from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the State Senate.
"Leadership is about stepping forward with solutions in situations where compromise seems beyond reach. The Governor exercised strong character and courageous leadership today," said Cagle. "Every Georgian should be proud of the outcome of this process."
But Perdue was not as proud.
"Who said I felt positive about it?" Perdue asked. "It's the only option I believe that takes care of Peachcare and midyear educational reserves, but it still leaves some needs unmet."
Perdue says state workers-including prosecutors and public defenders-could face furloughs.
He has not decided yet whether to sign the 2008 budget lawmakers approved. He says he will take "corrective action" if necessary.
Perdue's action reverses his earlier veto of the entire budget, which dictates state spending until July. He said this was not what he had wanted to do. He had hoped to call lawmakers back to the Capitol for a special session on the midyear budget, but ruled it out after meeting resistance from House leaders.
"It would've been tough on the members of the House and Senate, who are citizen-legislators, to come back not knowing how long that would be," Perdue said. "It would've been a show of power. It would've been futile."
Perdue denies his decision is a personal rebuke to House Speaker Glenn Richardson, who accused Perdue of showing lawmakers "his backside" by vetoing the budget. Richardson, who was once Perdue’s House floor leader, now uses softer words.
"Sometimes friends disagree, but the House will not compromise when it comes to defending the taxpayers of Georgia," he said in a written statement. He expressed disappointment that Perdue has vetoed $142 million one-time tax credit for property owners.
"The House still believes that if we can't all agree on how to spend the money, the best thing to do is to return it to the people who sent it to us," he said. "We would rather have it go back to the taxpayers than be hoarded for the government to spend another day."
But by striking the tax cut from the budget, Perdue says the money will enable the state to prop up its reserves at a time when economic growth is slowing.
"I think it's prudent at this time to be fiscally conservative," he said.
House leaders contend the reserves are in good shape now. Speaker Pro Tem Mark Burkhalter says he can't support the governor's decision.
"Aside from the fact that it's vetoing a tax cut, trying to understand how you can veto legislation, after sending out a press release and line-item veto something that’s a portion of what you already vetoed."
Burkhalter says House members are considering their next move, and they still want a tax cut.
Perdue's decision won praise from Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who presides over the State Senate.
"Leadership is about stepping forward with solutions in situations where compromise seems beyond reach. The Governor exercised strong character and courageous leadership today," said Cagle. "Every Georgian should be proud of the outcome of this process."
But Perdue was not as proud.
"Who said I felt positive about it?" Perdue asked. "It's the only option I believe that takes care of Peachcare and midyear educational reserves, but it still leaves some needs unmet."
Perdue says state workers-including prosecutors and public defenders-could face furloughs.
He has not decided yet whether to sign the 2008 budget lawmakers approved. He says he will take "corrective action" if necessary.
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