Committee of the Whole on Crime and Violence Announced by PA House GOP

[rev214]

Saw this reminder on The High Road:

Committee of the Whole on Crime and Violence Announced by PA House GOP

by News Release

Date: August 9, 2006 Contact: Stephen Miskin (717) 787-3845
E-mail: smiskin@pahousegop.com
Internet: www.samsmithpahouse.com


HARRISBURG - As a wave of crime and violence has spread throughout the Commonwealth, House Majority Leader Sam Smith (R-Jefferson County) today announced that the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will convene a Committee of the Whole on Tuesday, Sept. 26, to focus solely on public safety issues.

"While Philadelphia has been in the news for record-setting homicides, it is not alone when it comes to crime and violence, as communities throughout Pennsylvania are being affected by criminal behavior," Smith said. "The Committee of the Whole is an opportunity to build bipartisan consensus for an effective legislative strategy to keep the citizens of the Commonwealth safe and secure."

A Committee of the Whole will allow the House of Representatives to focus on a specific issue of concern and permit a more free and informal discussion among the members. The various proposals dealing with crime and violence will have an opportunity to be debated and refined. The goal of the Committee of the Whole on Crime and Violence is to develop a comprehensive solution to the recent rash of violent crime in the state.

The House of Representatives will examine a variety of ideas to stem criminal activity and the violence associated with it. Some of the issues to be debated on the House Floor include: appropriate sentencing, innovative court processes, treatment programs and intervention services for juveniles.

House Republicans have already been working to make communities safer. Republicans successfully restored more than $30 million of Gov. Ed Rendells proposed budget cuts to fight crime, illegal guns and drugs. The restored funding will help fund local law enforcement, witness relocation and community crime watch efforts.

House Republicans have also led the effort to put more police on the streets, including a three-year fight to hire more state troopers to patrol communities.

Due to significant problems with crimes specifically in Philadelphia, the 2006-07 Pennsylvania State Budget contains a new appropriation of $5 million to the Pennsylvania Attorney General to fund joint state and local gun violence task forces in Philadelphia. This will mean a greater law enforcement presence in the city.

The state provides substantial funding for targeted anti-violence programs. The 2005-06 state budget included $11.6 million, and this years budget increased the allocation to $22 million.

"House Republicans believe the solution to violent crime is to aggressively target and penalize criminal behavior," Smith said.

[IceFire]

Here's a novel thought on reducing crime...Whenever the perps get arrested, LOCK THEM UP for a change, instead of letting them plea bargain to a lesser offence, giving them a slap on the wrist (probabtion) and turning them loose. If the gang bangers were locked up for a change, there would be a BIG reduction in crime/violence! DUH!!!

[Joe Demko]

Between the Democrats disarming us and the Republicans expanding police powers for the various Wars on Ideas and Inanimate Objects, I daresay we must be the safest people in the world.

[grahamfsw]

Here's a novel thought on reducing crime...Whenever the perps get arrested, LOCK THEM UP for a change, instead of letting them plea bargain to a lesser offence, giving them a slap on the wrist (probabtion) and turning them loose. If the gang bangers were locked up for a change, there would be a BIG reduction in crime/violence! DUH!!!

I gotta agree with you here. Atleast here in Reading it seems like we are more accomodating to the criminals instead of the law abiding citizens.

Criminals get a slap on the wrist and then set free.