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Home Contact Us Innocence Links Press Releases FL Execution Information Facts Get Involved Local Groups Reports DP in the News U.S. Execution Information Yes Florida, There is an ALTERNATIVE to the Death Penalty
The 2003 legislative session is coming to a close. Fortunately, and unfortunately, none of the death penalty related bills are expected to pass. However, a major item of concern is Governor Bush’s proposed budget, which would remove the funding for Florida’s appellate level public defender system, known as the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel (CCRC). This is generally considered to be a bad idea, even by pro-death penalty conservatives. But then, Jeb Bush is just itching for more executions, and so he is wielding the budget axe over the state-run office that stands between the prisoners and the poison.
CCRC does not have to be abolished through legislative action — they just have to eliminate the funding. The Florida House of Representatives has exactly done that in the budget it approved, while the Florida Senate has maintained full funding. It all comes down to what happens this week when negotiators from the two bodies meet to reconcile the two proposed budgets. Although most people believe the Senate version will prevail in conference, nothing is certain. Floridians are therefore urged to contact the following legislators with the following messages:
(See below for links to further details and history on this matter.)
SEND MESSAGES SUPPORTING THE SENATE VERSION TO SENATORS KING AND PRUITT
SEND MESSAGES ASKING REPRESENTATIVES BYRD AND NEGRON TO SHOW FLEXIBILITY AND TO REINSTATE FULL FUNDING FOR CCRC BY CONCURRING WITH THE FLORIDA SENATE IN THIS MATTER.
“With regard to the matter of CCRC, I urge you to maintain full funding, if not increased funding. If the State is going to have the death penalty, then it must maintain a state agency with the resources and responsibility to ensure those facing death have the best possible legal representation.”
If you like, please also include language similar to the following:
“Please also consider the fact that Florida could save more than $51 million annually by abolishing the death penalty and depending exclusively on life without the possibility of parole.”
CONTACT INFORMATION
Senator James E. King, Jr.
President of the Senate
Phone: 850-487-5030
Fax: 850-487-5368
E-mail: [email protected]
Senator Ken Pruitt
Phone: 850-487-5088
E-mail: [email protected]
Representative Johnnie Byrd
Speaker of the House
Phone: 850-488-0807
E-mail: [email protected]
Representative Joe Negron
Phone: 850-488-8832
E-mail: [email protected]
LINKS FOR MORE INFORMATION:
FADP held a press conference in January at which this matter was discussed extensively. Read the transcript (and see photos) at https://www.fadp.orgwordpress/?page_id=3745
You can read some of the news items about this matter at https://www.fadp.org/news/newshttps://www.fadp.orgwordpress/?page_id=3619
And finally, an extensive background piece has been developed by the Florida Death Row Advocacy Group, which is available at https://www.fadp.org/Fdrag/SpecialEd.html
Please take action TODAY!
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
800-973-6548
https://www.fadp.org
PMB 335
2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
Gainesville, FL 32609
(800) 973-6548
[email protected]
