Iowa Republican lawmakers advanced a bill Monday that would reinstate the death penalty for individuals who murder a peace officer.
A three-member subcommittee voted 2-0 to advance Senate Study Bill 3085, with a proposed amendment, for consideration by the full Senate Judiciary Committee.
As written, the bill would make anyone convicted of first-degree murder eligible for the death penalty. But lawmakers said they would amend it to pertain only to someone who murders a law enforcement officer.
For the death penalty to be considered, the person must be 18 years or older and have knowledge that the victim was a police officer. The act must also be intentional, the offender must be a major participant in the commission of the crime, and they must not be mentally ill or intellectually disabled.
A jury or judge would need to find the defendant guilty, and then decide in a separate proceeding whether the death penalty should apply.
It also would require the Iowa Supreme Court to automatically review all death penalty sentences to examine whether the sentence is excessive or disproportionate to penalties in similar cases.
Capital punishment was abolished in Iowa in 1965.
Previous attempts to reinstate the death penalty have failed to gain traction in the Iowa Legislature.
Religious groups and others opposed to the bill said studies have shown the death penalty doesn’t deter crime. U.S. states using the death penalty have a similar murder rate to states that don’t use it, with opponents arguing the threat of capital punishment does not appear to prevent homicides.
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Others noted racial disparities in death penalty prosecutions, and the inherent risk the death penalty carries of executing an innocent person. Since 1973, at least 190 people have been exonerated from death row in the U.S., according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
“You never get to what you want because revenge does not reward you. That's all the death penalty is, is revenge,” said subcommittee member Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, who declined to sign off on the bill. “Frankly, life in prison without parole has to be one of the most painful, mentally torturing things I would think that you could go through.”
Bisignano also took issue with the fact that death penalty would only apply to law enforcement — who “signs up for” and are equipped for “dangerous duty” — and not extend to children killed in a school shooting.
“I think it's a political round. We keep playing with politics in election years,” he said. “And this … cop killer bill seems to be that thing that you want to put in your brochure, but I hope you'll put along with that that you excluded children killed in school shootings.”
Subcommittee member Sen. David Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, mentioned Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram, who was shot and killed last year as he tried to serve an arrest warrant.
“A husband. Father of three. Son. Grandson. That is who wants to be heard when this sensitive issue comes up,” Rowley said, “because their pain and suffering, regardless, goes on and on.”
Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, who chaired the subcommittee, echoed Rowley.
“I know there's a lot of conversation about this doesn't deter anybody. But that closure that those parents need, or the wife, or the husband, or the kids need, should be considered also,” he said. “I agree with that. This is a difficult situation and I believe that we should back our police officers and our peace officers that work within our prisons. We should make sure that we realize and we know that they're out there defending us and we defend them.”
Lawmakers also are considering advancing a bill that stalled during last year’s session that would bring back the death penalty in Iowa for murder in the first degree when it involves kidnapping and sexual abuse offenses against a child.
Financial institutions would be prohibited from declining to provide services based on an individual’s beliefs or social actions under legislation advanced by Republicans on a Senate subcommittee.
The legislation bars financial institutions from refusing to provide services based on a so-called social credit score, which is defined in the bill to include an individual’s religious beliefs, behaviors related to climate change, refusal to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and other social matters.
Republicans and conservative advocacy groups that spoke at a subcommittee hearing said the legislation is needed to protect people who hold conservative beliefs from political backlash from financial institutions like banks, credit unions and credit card companies.
Republican Iowa Sens. David Rowley, of Spirit Lake, and Lynn Evans, of Centerville, signed off on advancing the bill, Senate Study Bill 3094, to the full Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic Sen. Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, declined to support the bill.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird co-authored a multi-state letter showing support for Texas’ border enforcement actions as the protracted standoff between the state's governor and President Joe Biden’s administration continues.
Bird and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes co-led the letter, joined by 24 other Republican attorneys general and the Arizona State Legislature.
In the letter, the attorneys general argue that Texas has the constitutional right to conduct border enforcement at its southern border, including setting up razor wire fencing.
The U.S. Supreme Court this week cleared the way for Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire at the Texas border after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sued to prevent Border Patrol from intervening. The ruling did not impact Abbott’s ability to continue placing the razor wire.
Abbot has declared the rise in illegal border crossings an “invasion,” saying he has a constitutional duty to enforce border policies.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week joined most Republican governors in a statement defending Texas’ actions at the border.
“While the Biden Administration has opened the door wide for drug cartels, traffickers, and potential terrorists to cross our border, States have been left to fend for themselves," Bird said in a statement. "If the Biden Administration won’t do its job to secure our border and keep Americans safe, it should step aside to let the States do the job for them. Iowa proudly stands with Texas in this fight.”
www.thegazette.com
A three-member subcommittee voted 2-0 to advance Senate Study Bill 3085, with a proposed amendment, for consideration by the full Senate Judiciary Committee.
As written, the bill would make anyone convicted of first-degree murder eligible for the death penalty. But lawmakers said they would amend it to pertain only to someone who murders a law enforcement officer.
For the death penalty to be considered, the person must be 18 years or older and have knowledge that the victim was a police officer. The act must also be intentional, the offender must be a major participant in the commission of the crime, and they must not be mentally ill or intellectually disabled.
A jury or judge would need to find the defendant guilty, and then decide in a separate proceeding whether the death penalty should apply.
It also would require the Iowa Supreme Court to automatically review all death penalty sentences to examine whether the sentence is excessive or disproportionate to penalties in similar cases.
Capital punishment was abolished in Iowa in 1965.
Previous attempts to reinstate the death penalty have failed to gain traction in the Iowa Legislature.
Religious groups and others opposed to the bill said studies have shown the death penalty doesn’t deter crime. U.S. states using the death penalty have a similar murder rate to states that don’t use it, with opponents arguing the threat of capital punishment does not appear to prevent homicides.
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Others noted racial disparities in death penalty prosecutions, and the inherent risk the death penalty carries of executing an innocent person. Since 1973, at least 190 people have been exonerated from death row in the U.S., according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
“You never get to what you want because revenge does not reward you. That's all the death penalty is, is revenge,” said subcommittee member Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, who declined to sign off on the bill. “Frankly, life in prison without parole has to be one of the most painful, mentally torturing things I would think that you could go through.”
Bisignano also took issue with the fact that death penalty would only apply to law enforcement — who “signs up for” and are equipped for “dangerous duty” — and not extend to children killed in a school shooting.
“I think it's a political round. We keep playing with politics in election years,” he said. “And this … cop killer bill seems to be that thing that you want to put in your brochure, but I hope you'll put along with that that you excluded children killed in school shootings.”
Subcommittee member Sen. David Rowley, R-Spirit Lake, mentioned Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram, who was shot and killed last year as he tried to serve an arrest warrant.
“A husband. Father of three. Son. Grandson. That is who wants to be heard when this sensitive issue comes up,” Rowley said, “because their pain and suffering, regardless, goes on and on.”
Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, who chaired the subcommittee, echoed Rowley.
“I know there's a lot of conversation about this doesn't deter anybody. But that closure that those parents need, or the wife, or the husband, or the kids need, should be considered also,” he said. “I agree with that. This is a difficult situation and I believe that we should back our police officers and our peace officers that work within our prisons. We should make sure that we realize and we know that they're out there defending us and we defend them.”
Lawmakers also are considering advancing a bill that stalled during last year’s session that would bring back the death penalty in Iowa for murder in the first degree when it involves kidnapping and sexual abuse offenses against a child.
Bill would ban so-called social credit scores
Financial institutions would be prohibited from declining to provide services based on an individual’s beliefs or social actions under legislation advanced by Republicans on a Senate subcommittee.
The legislation bars financial institutions from refusing to provide services based on a so-called social credit score, which is defined in the bill to include an individual’s religious beliefs, behaviors related to climate change, refusal to participate in diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and other social matters.
Republicans and conservative advocacy groups that spoke at a subcommittee hearing said the legislation is needed to protect people who hold conservative beliefs from political backlash from financial institutions like banks, credit unions and credit card companies.
Republican Iowa Sens. David Rowley, of Spirit Lake, and Lynn Evans, of Centerville, signed off on advancing the bill, Senate Study Bill 3094, to the full Iowa Senate Judiciary Committee. Democratic Sen. Herman Quirmbach, of Ames, declined to support the bill.
Iowa AG leads Texas defense letter
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird co-authored a multi-state letter showing support for Texas’ border enforcement actions as the protracted standoff between the state's governor and President Joe Biden’s administration continues.
Bird and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes co-led the letter, joined by 24 other Republican attorneys general and the Arizona State Legislature.
In the letter, the attorneys general argue that Texas has the constitutional right to conduct border enforcement at its southern border, including setting up razor wire fencing.
The U.S. Supreme Court this week cleared the way for Border Patrol agents to cut razor wire at the Texas border after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sued to prevent Border Patrol from intervening. The ruling did not impact Abbott’s ability to continue placing the razor wire.
Abbot has declared the rise in illegal border crossings an “invasion,” saying he has a constitutional duty to enforce border policies.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week joined most Republican governors in a statement defending Texas’ actions at the border.
“While the Biden Administration has opened the door wide for drug cartels, traffickers, and potential terrorists to cross our border, States have been left to fend for themselves," Bird said in a statement. "If the Biden Administration won’t do its job to secure our border and keep Americans safe, it should step aside to let the States do the job for them. Iowa proudly stands with Texas in this fight.”
Proposed bill would reintroduce death penalty for those who murder police
As written, the bill would make anyone convicted of first-degree murder eligible for the death penalty. But lawmakers said they would amend it to pertain only to someone who murders a law enforcement officer.
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