Paul Stam » Death Penalty

House Bill 36 – An act to require counties, cities and employers to use the Federal E-Verify program to verify the work authorization of newly hired employees was signed by the Governor on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 92 – An act to repeal the land transfer tax was signed into law by the Governor on March 31, 2011.

House Bill 112 – An act to realign the Districts for Wake County Superior Court Judge seats to provide for single member districts and equal representation in those districts was signed into law by the Governor on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 542 – An act to provide tort reform for North Carolina citizens and businesses was signed into law by the Governor on June 24, 2011.

House Bill 588 – An act requiring local boards of education to teach a semester long course in high school entitled, “American History I – The Founding Principles.” The course will include a study on The Creator – endowed inalienable rights of the people, rule of law, equal justice under law, private property rights, federalism, due process, individual responsibility, etc. The Governor made this act law on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 596 – An act to require that proceeds of certain dispositions of state-owned real property be used in part to support the general fund, in part to support the teachers’ and state employees’ retirement system of North Carolina, and in part to support the agencies to which the property was allocated; and to appropriate funds for these purposes. The bill became law by the Governor’s hand on June 27, 2011.

House Bill 642 – The Justice Reinvestment Act was signed into law on June 23, 2011 by the Governor. The act is a major reform of the North Carolina Justice system.

House Bill 650 – An act to provide when a person may use defensive force and to amend various gun laws regarding the right to own, possess, or carry a firearm in North Carolina was signed into law by the Governor on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 762 – An act to protect landowner’s rights was signed into law by the Governor on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 927 – An act to make changes to the statutes governing the teachers’ and state employees’ retirement system and the consolidated judicial retirement system to ensure the future solvency of those systems was signed into law by the Governor on June 23, 2011.

House Bill 289 – An act to authorize the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue various special registration plates including North Carolina Zoological Society, ARTS NC, North Carolina State Flag and Donate Life was signed by the Governor and became law on June 30, 2011.

House Bill 619 – An act to specify the Secretary of Revenue’s authority to adjust net income of a corporation or to require a corporation to file a combined return was signed by the Governor and became law on June 30, 2011.

Notable Republican Bills That Became Law without the Governor’s Signature

House Bill 48 – An act to reduce spending by eliminating statewide standardized testing in the public schools, except as required by Federal law or as a condition of a Federal grant. The bill became law on March 21, 2011.

House Bill 119 – An act to amend certain environmental and natural resources laws was presented to the Governor on June 20, 2011 and became law without her signature on July 1, 2011.

House Bill 744 – The “Safe Schools Act” states that a principal of any public school may shall require the parent or guardian of any child presented for admission for the first time to that school to furnish (i) a certified copy of the child’s birth certificate, which shall be furnished by the register of deeds of the county having on file the record of the birth of the child, or other satisfactory evidence of date of birth, as provided in Article 4 of Chapter 130A. The act became law on June 28, 2011.

House Bill 344 – An act to allow individual income tax credit for children with disabilities who require special education and to create a fund for special education and related services became law on July 1, 2011.

House Bill 845 – An act to reform the involuntary annexation laws of North Carolina became law on July 1, 2011.

Veto Overrides

Senate Bill 33 – An act to reform the laws relating to money judgment appeal bonds, bifurcation of trials in civil cases and medical liability became law on July 25, 2011 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto.

Senate Bill 496 – An act to provide requirements of Medicaid and health choice providers became law on July 25, 2011 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto.

Senate Bill 532 (HB 813) – An act to reform employment security laws by creating the Division of Employment Security within the Department of Commerce became law on July 26, 2011 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto.

Senate Bill 781 – An act to increase regulatory efficiency in order to balance job creation and environmental protection was vetoed by the Governor. The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s veto on July 25, 2011 and the bill became law.

House Bill 200 – The Appropriations Act of 2011, otherwise known as the state budget, which was balanced and did not raise tax rates.

House Bill 854 – An act to require a 24-hour waiting period and the informed consent of a pregnant woman before an abortion may be performed became law on July 28, 2011 after the House and Senate voted to override the Governor’s veto.

100 Day Plan Legislative Update

Paul Stam, NC House Republican Leader — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:32:34 +0000

100 Day Legislative Update

August 15, 2011

1. Balanced Budget and Reduced Tax Rates

With bipartisan support, the House voted 73 – 46 to override the veto of Governor Bev Perdue. The House and Senate achieved this historic milestone on June 15, 2011.

This fulfills our first two promises to the people of North Carolina: A balanced budget and a budget that does not raise tax rates. Our budget contains the largest tax rate cut in the history of North Carolina. It makes our state more competitive with our neighbors again. It puts almost $1.5 billion back in to the hands of hard working North Carolinians. It is balanced. The business school at UNC Chapel Hill estimates that the Republican budget will create up to 14,900 new private sector jobs in North Carolina.

2. Protect Health Care Freedom Act

HB 2, protects North Carolinians from the “individual mandate” in the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), passed the House and Senate and was sent to the Governor. She Vetoed the bill. Republican leaders filed an Amicus Curiae (Friend of the Court) brief on May 11, 2011 to the 11^th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia. The Court of Appeals is now in deliberations.

3. North Carolina is a Right-to-Work state. Republicans will continue to support laws that secure the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join a union. We will stop any legislation that allows collective bargaining.

4. Reducing regulatory burden on small business.

Both House and Senate members have proposed legislation to limit the financial burden of regulation on businesses.

Senate Bill 22 – An act to limit new agency regulatory requirements that result in substantial additional costs. SB 22 passed both chambers and was signed into law by the Governor on March 25, 2011.
House Bill 162 – An act to exempt certain activities related to small-scale processing of agricultural products from wastewater permit requirements. The bill passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governoron April 19, 2011.
House Bill 200 – The Appropriations Act of 2011 limits the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Labor and Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services from imposing standards or limitations that are more restrictive than the Federal government. The Act became law on June 15, 2011.
House Bill 542 – An act to provide tort reform for North Carolina citizens and businesses was signed by the Governor and became law on June 24, 2011.
House Bill 619 – An act to specify the Secretary of Revenue’s authority to adjust net income of a corporation or to require a corporation to file a combined return was signed by the Governor and became law on June 30, 2011.
House Bill 709 – An act to Protect and Put NC Back to Work by reforming the Workers’ Compensation Act passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor on June 24, 2011.
Senate Bill 781 – An act to increase regulatory efficiency in order to balance job creation and environmental protection was vetoed by the Governor. The House and Senate overrode the Governor’s vetoon July 25, 2011 and the bill became law.

5. The balanced budget passed by the House and Senate fully funds the teachers in the classroom, not the bureaucracy.

6. Senate Bill 8 entitled, “No Cap on Number of Charter Schools” passed the House and Senate with bipartisan support and has been signed by the Governor. The bill became law on June 17, 2011.

7. HB 351, titled “Restore Confidence in Government” requires voters to provide photo ID before voting and allows more flexibility when applying for absentee ballots. HB 351 was ratified by the House and Senate but vetoedby the Governoron June 23, 2011. The House was unable to override the Governor’s veto but because of a parliamentary procedure it is eligible for reconsideration.

8. The House and Senate have each introduced bills proposing a Constitutional Amendment that will protect private property rights. House Bill 8 titled, “Eminent Domain” passed the full House on a vote of 98 to 18 and now moves to the Senate.

9. HB 139 entitled, “Limit Contributions by State Vendors” discourages pay-to-play politics in North Carolina. The bill seeks to limit the campaign contributions of state vendors to Council of State offices with which they hold contracts. HB 139 passed the House on May 24^th and has been sent to the Senate.

Murderers Get Another Reprieve

Paul Stam, NC House Republican Leader — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 14:28:31 +0000

Since the resumption of the death penalty allowed by the United States Supreme Court in the late 1970′s two-thirds of those actually executed in North Carolina have been white. And of the 130 claims, 47 of them were made by white defendants. Now that is ironic. But it is exactly what we predicted before the Act passed.

Meanwhile the true effect of the Racial Justice Act (which has little to do with race and nothing to do with justice) is to effectively impose another moratorium on the imposition of the death sentence for first degree murder. For the last year (while we were waiting for the motions to be filed) and for the next two years (while the courts sort them out) no one will be executed for their crimes. (See The Herald Sun article by UNC Professor Emeritus Elliot Cramer, “I believe Racial Justice Act serves no useful purpose”)

No one will actually get relief under the act because actual racial discrimination has been illegal for decades and those with actual evidence that they have been discriminated against have been able to present those claims in court without this act. It is shameful that 61 House Democrats and 28 Senate Democrats voted for this unjust law.

Senate Republican Leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said, “The true travesty of this law is that it removes from consideration the facts surrounding the murder in question and places in the hands of academics rather than judges and juries the decision as to whether a murderer’s heinous act merits society’s harshest punishment.”

House Republican Leader Paul Stam (R-Wake) said, “Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of these murder victims deserve better.”

Letter to the Editor: Death Deterrent

Paul Stam, NC House Republican Leader — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:26:08 +0000

On January 7, 2010, Rep. Stam responded to an article published by the News & Observer entitled, “Study: End death cases, save money” which reported on research conducted by Duke University Economist Philip Cook. Cook attempts to show that money can be saved by the state if the death penalty is not an option for punishment.

Read Rep. Stam’s response in his Letter to the Editor entitled, “Death Deterrent” here: http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters/story/271468.html?story_link=email_msg

61 House Democrats Vote for Racial Quotas on the Death Penalty and for a Moratorium on Executions of First-Degree Murderers

Paul Stam, NC House Republican Leader — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:14:24 +0000

On July 15, 2009 61 House Democrats voted for the “NC Racial Justice Act” SB461. Federal and State law already prohibit racial discrimination in imposing death sentence for first degree murder (and any crime). This bill goes far beyond that by allowing use of statistics in a particular county or district to prove that since some other person was possibly discriminated against, that this murderer may not be subject to the death sentence for first degree murder notwithstanding lack of real evidence of actual discrimination. And since there is not a single county or district in the state with enough numbers for a valid statistical study, the evidence presented will be complete nonsense (based on population proportion rather than offender proportion).

Murderers have not agreed to this quota system and will continue their crimes. But they do appreciate the effective moratorium on executions.

WHO LOSES?

1. Primarily, the families of victims of first degree murderers currently on death row. It is only the worst of the worst of the first degree murderers who actually get the death sentence. Some of the families of these victims have been waiting 8 to 15 years (typical) and up to 20 and 25 years for these sentences to be carried out. This bill will lengthen that period by several more years. Why? See Section 5 below. And none of these victims had any choice in the race of the person who murdered them.

2. Future homicide victims. We have presented to the public and the press detailed studies gathered by the Attorney General that demonstrate the strong deterrent effect that a sentence of death for murder has on future homicides. Conservative estimates of the number of additional innocent homicide victims for every year during a moratorium would be about 50. We estimate that if this bill becomes law it will add 3 to 4 additional years to the time on death row and that much time before any executions are carried out in this state. A death penalty that is not carried out has no deterrent effect. These 150+ additional victims are predominantly African American. We do not know their names, yet, and may never know their names because this is only the excess number of homicides caused by this moratorium. But they are real people whose families will grieve over their deaths.

3. A half-dozen Democrats who promised their District Attorney or Sheriff that they would not vote for this legislation but did so. How will they explain that to the chief law enforcement officers of their districts? How will they explain it to the taxpayers and citizens of their districts, and how will they explain it to the families of the victims? The Sheriffs Association and the conference of District Attorneys strongly opposed the bill. These associations are majority Democratic by party.

4. Taxpayers. Democrats are planning to raise an additional $1 billion in new taxes on our people in the middle of a recession. Is it really an appropriate use of resources to spend tens of millions of dollars to give additional hearings to 163 first degree murderers already on death row? Each of these have had multiple hearings already in front of 47 different judges (typically) over a span of 8 to 15 years, or even more. Could these funds not have been used to prosecute this year’s murderers or to hire teachers?

5. A functioning law enforcement system. Attached are letters from four District Attorneys explaining this process.

Tom Keith, District Attorney for Forsyth County, explains the tremendous cost involved not just in money but in diversion of time from prosecuting all the new murderers and rapists that need their attention.

District Attorney Peter Gilchrist of Charlotte, explains why this bill is so disingenuous.

District Attorney Jeff Hunt of Transylvania explains all of the procedural protection that every person on death row already enjoys.

District Attorney Locke Bell of Gaston County explains this irony: Under this bill (in his district, and this is true of many districts) that prosecutors who want to comply with its mandates will have to make sure to seek executions of more African Americans so that they will not be prohibited from executing white first degree murderers who have otherwise exceeded their quota for the county.

The Winners

There are a few winners by this legislation. The 163 blood thirsty criminals convicted of first degree murder now on death row are the principal beneficiaries. Collectively, 162 of them have committed 270 murders, 58 rapes, 40 kidnappings and hundreds of other violent felonies. Almost 1,200 felonies in total. Let me share with you some of their stories. You decide whether they are on death row because of their race or whether they are there because of their crimes.

Inmate Wallace (Meckleburg): 9 murders / 13 rapes

Inmate Frogg (Forsyth): 6 murders

Inmate Robinson ( Bladen): 6 murders

Inmate Phillips (Moore): 5 murders

Inmate Smith (Buncombe): 4 murders / 1 manslaughter

Inmate Wilkinson (Cumberland): 3 murders / 5 rapes

Inmate Lane (Wayne): 1 murder / 1 child rape

For more details on these and other murderers see this link at the Department of Corrections.

The Debate

You may want to hear the July 14, 2009 debate on this bill. See the House audio archive at this link. The debate starts at 34:57 minutes into the session and ends at 03:09:45. If you want to see a shorter debate between the principal sponsor, Sen. Floyd McKissick, and Rep. Paul Stam on UNC TV’s Legislative Week in Review, visit this link and click on the July 3^rd video. The discussion starts at 28:00 minutes into the video and ends at 41:38.

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