Contributor Opinion By Sen. Brian Frosh: Setting The Record Straight On Jennie Forehand
Sep 3, 2010 16:30 - 1 Comment
This contributor opinion is by state Senator Brian E. Frosh:
Photo from candidate's web site
I worked closely with Governor O’Malley to repeal the death penalty. Senator Jennie Forehand was a critical ally in our fight to end capital punishment in Maryland. Jennie voted with repeal advocates in each critical vote during the process.
Jennie voted for the repeal in the Judicial Proceedings Committee;
When the repeal fell short in committee, Jennie voted to bring the bill to the Senate floor over the objections of the Senate President;
When her vote was needed to start debate, Jennie was there - casting the deciding vote to move the debate forward;
When Senate Republicans tried to kill the bill by sending it back to Committee, Jennie voted to keep the issue on the Senate floor; and
Jennie voted for the final version of the bill, which dramatically restricted capital punishment in Maryland, limiting it to the rarest of situations.
We took a dozen tough votes on the issue, and Jennie voted with repeal advocates at each critical step. You can see the final Senate vote that passed the bill here and the full public record here.
I was there, and I know the important role that Jennie played. She was there when repeal advocates needed her, taking tough votes and standing up to the Senate President when she thought he was wrong.
Jennie Forehand takes her duties seriously. She’s never backed away from a tough fight, and she works hard for the residents of District 17. Whether you vote early or on Election Day this year, I hope you vote to send Jennie back to the Maryland Senate.
Brian E. Frosh
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While I respect Sen. Frosh and the work that he does in Annapolis, I must take issue with the partial story he told about Jennie Forehand’s record on the death penalty.
In the path from idea to law, bills usually face one particularly critical juncture in the legislative process. In the case of Senate Bill 279, it was the amendment that turned the bill from a complete repeal of the death penalty to simply a restriction on its use. That’s a big change, and that’s the vote Jennie ducked (http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/votes/senate/0293.htm.)
When faced with one of the most solemn public policy issues- whether or not to repeal the death penalty- Jennie Forehand seems to want it both ways…or rather, multiple ways.
First, she voted for total abolition of the death penalty in committee. Then, she took a walk when the bill came to the floor. Now, on the campaign trail, she says that the death penalty is appropriate in some situations (see debate footage at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrUVr5F1G0s&feature=player_embedded). Yes, undecided, and no: wherever you stand on the issue, Jennie Forehand has a position you’ll like. Very polite of her, but that’s not leadership.
William Rice
Campaign Manager
Cheryl Kagan for State Senate