Showing posts tagged “Paul Stam”
Lisa Sorg ·
18 Sep 2009, 3:02 PM ·
Comment
The State Board of Community Colleges voted 16-1 to approve an admissions policy to allow undocumented immigrants to attend North Carolina community colleges. However, until the policy goes through the administrative rules process, which could take up to a year, the current admissions standard of not admitting undocumented immigrants, which went into effective May 2008, remains in place.
These prospective students must meet three criteria:
Must be a graduate of a U.S. high school
Must pay out-of-state tuition, totaling $7,700 per academic year
May not displace a North Carolina or U.S. resident from a class or program
Read Community College president R. Scott Ralls’ statement (288kb pdf). r-scott-ralls1 The portion about undocumented immigrants begins on page 2.
House Minority Leader Paul Stam (R-Apex) countered the vote with his own statement, available here (128kb pdf): paulstam
See the Indy’s previous coverage of the issue “NC colleges can admit illegal immigrants, Homeland Security tells AG,” and “Door to state’s community colleges shuts on illegal immigrants.”
North Carolina, education, news admissions policy, N.C. Board of Community Colleges, Paul Stam, R. Scott Ralls, undocumented immigrants
Matt Saldaña ·
16 Jul 2009, 6:20 PM ·
5 Comments
Minority House Leader Paul Stam (R-Wake) was silent during yesterday’s floor debate leading up the House’s 61-54 vote to approve the Racial Justice Act, which would prevent the execution of defendants who can prove race was an underlying factor in the decision to seek, or impose, the death penalty at the time of their trial.
But today, Stam fired off a press release (PDF, 142 KB) saying, essentially, that the blood of future murder victims is on the hands of the 61 Democrats who voted for the bill.
Note that’s future victims–meaning they do not actually exist. Nevertheless, Stam said these hypothetical victims, which he estimates to be “150+,” are “primarily African American.”
Stam’s figure arrived, through several permutations, from a University of Houston study that claims to be able to calculate the number of likely murders that occurred as a direct result of Texas’ temporary moratorium. The study’s principal argument is based on the claim–in dispute among criminologists and social scientists–that the death penalty acts as a deterrent on crime. Stam prorated the study’s finding of moratorium-induced deaths–90–for North Carolina’s population and the comparative length of its ongoing moratorium, in place due to legal challenges since August 2006.
In a May 2009 press release (PDF, 146 KB) co-authored by Sens. Phil Berger and Eddie Goodall, Stam claimed that each year North Carolina has had a de facto moratorium, 25 additional murders have resulted, totaling 75 murders. Yet in today’s press release–which carried only Stam’s name–that figure doubled, to 50 murders per year, as a “conservative estimate.” Without any factual basis, Stam then estimated that the Racial Justice Act would extend the state’s de facto moratorium by “3 to 4 additional years,” directly leading to more than 150 additional victims.
“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,” Stam said. “But they are real people whose families will grieve over their deaths.”
Multiple studies have shown no correlation between a death penalty and a deterrent to homicide. According to FBI statistics over the past 20 years, states without a death penalty have had consistently lower murder rates than states that do—although this data does not necessarily prove or disprove any correlation.
In addition, Stam greatly exaggerated the estimated financial impact of the Racial Justice Act. In a fiscal note attached to the bill, the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) predicted additional costs would total between $2.4 million and $6.2 million within the first year, consisting mostly of defendants already on death row, who have one year to file a claim. The N.C. Department of Justice estimated the additional costs for the 163 defendants on death row to be $4 million. By contrast, Stam claimed the bill would cost “tens of millions of dollars,” due to additional hearings expenses for these defendants alone. Continue reading »
North Carolina NC General Assembly, Paul Stam, racial justice act
Matt Saldaña ·
16 Jul 2009, 3:54 AM ·
2 Comments
On Wednesday the N.C. House passed the Racial Justice Act, despite a last-ditch effort by House Republicans to characterize the bill as a potential drain on the justice system, and a ploy to abolish the death penalty altogether. The bill, which N.C. Indigent Defense Services estimated would save the state money in capital trial costs, would not overturn capital punishment in North Carolina. Instead, it would prevent the execution of defendants who can prove race was an underlying factor in the decision to seek, or impose, the death penalty at the time of their trial. These defendants would instead be tried, or sentenced, to life in prison without parole. The bill now moves to the Senate for concurrence, in order to resolve differences between the two chambers’ votes: the Senate version contains unrelated clauses that would ensure the resumption of the death penalty–currently on hold in North Carolina due to legal challenges–while the House version does not deal with the matter.
“Clearly, the House understands that race is still a factor in [capital] sentencing decisions,” Jeremy Collins, campaign coordinator for the N.C. Coalition for a Moratorium, said after the 61-53 vote, which was later adjusted to 61-54. He added: “We’re hopeful the Senate will concur.”
A day after combative debate on the House floor, including a claim by Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake) that the bill would force prosecutors to sentence more white people, and women, to death, in order to fill racial and gender quotas, the House Minority Leader was silent. Instead, Republicans tried to convince pro-death penalty Democrats to join their side. (Three Democrats voted against the bill; no Republicans supported it.)
“For those of you who support the death penalty, and support this bill, I’d like to address my remarks to you,” Rep. Leo Daughtry (R-Johnston) said, before arguing that Racial Justice Act claims would “clog our system up to the point where we will no longer have a death penalty.”
Yet, Rep. Grier Martin (D-Wake) insisted the distinction among the bill’s supporters was moot.
“It’s entirely possible that someone supports the death penalty out of a strong sense of justice,” he said. “It is not a paradox, and in fact I think it’s entirely consistent with that same sense of justice … that they also be driven to not see the death penalty implemented in a way that executes someone who is innocent, or in this case, reflects the racism that we all know still lingers in our society.” Continue reading »
North Carolina Grier Martin, Leo Daughtry, NC General Assembly, Paul Stam, racial justice act, Rick Glazier, Sarah Stevens
Matt Saldaña ·
15 Jul 2009, 1:17 PM ·
1 Comment
The N.C. House has announced that the Racial Justice Act will come up for a third and final reading during today’s regular session, scheduled for 3 p.m. Senate Bill 461 would prevent the execution of defendants who can prove race was an underlying factor in the decision to seek, or impose, the death penalty at the time of their trial. If convicted of first-degree murder, these defendants instead would be sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Last night, members of the House defeated an amendment that would have reduced the scope of the bill and re-referred it to the Appropriations committee, by a vote of 58-58.
Instead, House Democrats voted to pass a “clean” version of the bill that does not contain controversial clauses that would ensure the resumption of the death penalty in North Carolina; that bill now comes up for a final House vote tonight. Previously, the N.C. Senate passed a version of the bill that does contain these clauses, meaning that an ultimate resolution must be struck either through amendments in the Senate, or in conference committee.
Last night’s debate included re-hashed, and factually inaccurate, claims by Minority House Leader Paul Stam that the bill would require local districts to execute more white people, and women, the N&O and AP report. In fact, the bill would allow defendants to present statistical data to support a claim of racial bias; judges would then rule whether such a claim was valid. It would not require prosecutors to seek out death sentences based on race, but instead ensure the practice does not exist.
For background on the bill, see the Indy’s previous coverage.
North Carolina NC General Assembly, Paul Stam, racial justice act
Bob Geary ·
22 Jun 2009, 9:51 PM ·
1 Comment
By a 59-57 vote, the N.C. House tonight approved the School Violence Protection Act, or anti-bullying bill — Senate Bill 526 — on second reading. Final passage requires a second vote (aka, a third reading) in the House, which should come in a day or so.
(Update, 6/22: How members voted here.)
(Update, 6/23: Because the losing side asked for it, a second House vote was needed to pass the bill. It was conducted today, following another lengthy debate marked this time by a series of failed Republican amendments, and the tally in favor was 58-57.)
SB 526 previously passed the Senate. (Background on the Senate action here.) Gov. Bev Perdue is expected to sign it if and when it reaches her desk. The bill would require every school district to adopt an anti-bullying policy that spells out who’s most likely to need protection from bullying and the “strategies and methods” that will be used to protect them.
If enacted, the bill would offer gays and transgender citizens recognition in state law for the first time: The bill’s enumeration of the categories of kids who must be protected from bullying includes race, creed and — for the first time — sexual orientation and gender identity.
Rep. Darren Jackson, D-Wake, provided the most dramatic moment in a 90-minute long debate preceding passage. (His full statement is worth your time and is appended below the fold.) Jackson read a letter from a parent complaining that her autistic child is bullied because he’s different. (Autism is another enumerated category in the bill.)
Jackson went on to say that the issue isn’t some “cultural war” clash, as far as he’s concerned, but rather is very personal. He described a 10-year old boy who’s been called “sissy,” “homo” and other names because he’s small, likes to dance and likes the color pink. That child, he said, “should be free to be what God made him,” and indeed, at 10, he doesn’t yet know what he is.
Controlling his emotions, Jackson said that when the session ended, he’d go home and kiss that 10-year old boy good night. “And if that costs me my seat in this chamber, so be it.”
Opponents of the bill, including virtually every Republican, argued that the best way to protect kids from bullying is simply to outlaw it without regard to specific categories of kids.
House Minority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, predicted that the language about sexual orientation, though ostensibly only about children, will be used in North Carolina some day — as it was in Iowa by the Iowa Supreme Court — to support an equal-rights decision in favor of same-sex marriages.
But Rep. Mickey Michaux, D-Durham, countered that argument with some civil rights history. The nation was founded on the principle that “All men are created equal,” he recalled. Later, all men was redefined to mean all men and women too. But discrimination against people based on their religion and race continued, Michaux said, until it was specifically barred by law. “So what’s wrong with identifying the people who are subject to being harmed, or discriminated against? Michaux asked. Continue reading »
North Carolina anti-bullying bill, Darren Jackson, Mickey Michaux, Paul Stam
Bob Geary ·
19 Jun 2009, 1:01 PM ·
Comment
Equality North Carolina is calling for reinforcements, predicting that the House vote on the School Violence Prevention Act (Senate Bill 526), which is scheduled for Monday night, will be close. According to ENC, the bill’s opponents are in full-fervor mode. Greg Flynn, blogging on BlueNC, has chapter and verse about the toxic tactics of House Minority Leader Paul Stam, R-Wake, and his allies on the Christian Right. An excerpt:
Whether through ignorance, invective or indifference, Stam and the Christian Action League have been falsely equating sexual orientation and gender identity with sexual disorders or deviations and have perpetuated a myth originated by the American Family Association that incorrectly references and misquotes the DSM-IV-TR. The American Psychiatric Association would describe this as “irrational discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.” The Christian Action League compounds the error by variously attributing the bogus “list” to the American Psychological Association and to the American Psychiatric Association, two separate professional organizations.
There’s no reason this bill should be controversial, unless you think it’s OK for kids to pick on other kids because they’re different. Or unless you’re irredeemably homophobic.
North Carolina, politics Christian Action League, Equality North Carolina, Paul Stam, School Violence Prevention Act
Fiona Morgan ·
16 Jun 2009, 12:28 PM ·
Comment
The North Carolina legislature got one step closer today to passing a bill that would prevent bullying and harassment of children, but not without some rhetorical fireworks from one of the measure’s most vocal detractors.
As Mark Binker reports for the Greensboro News & Record, the House Judiciary I Committee voted 9-5 in favor of SB 526, the School Violence Prevention Act, which would require school districts to adopt polices to counter bullying. The bill has already passed the Senate and is expected to reach the House floor this week
According to Twitter reports from the committee room, N.C. Rep. Paul “Skip” Stam, a Republican from Apex, argued vehemently against language in the bill that would specifically protect children from being bullied on the basis of sexual orientation. The bill also includes language about race and religion. Its supporters say policies that spell out the basis of the harassment are more effective. The coalition of supporters includes the state Parent Teacher Association and NC Pediatric Society.
Stam reportedly called same sex parents “more dangerous than second-hand smoke.”
Here are some highlights of the bullying discussion, presented in chronological order, with Twitter lingo intact. (Note: an @symbol before a name indicates that is the party’s Twitter username. #NCGA is a hashtag that indicates the post pertains to the North Carolina General Assembly.) :
@PPCNC [Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina] #ncga Stam now fear-mongering, anti-bullying bill will lead to marriage equality-I wish
@PPCNC #ncga Now Stam saying having same sex parents more dangerous than second hand smoke, really over edge now
@gregflynn Stam is repeating lie about “30 sexual orientations”. This is NOT in DSM-IV as definitions of SO. It’s a lie. #ncga
As bills fly quickly through the legislature during these last few weeks of the session, Twitter has become an increasingly valuable resource for finding out the status and hearing discussion of legislation. You can read these accounts by searching Twitter.com for the hashtag #NCGA (for North Carolina General Assembly).
You’ll see a mix of tweets (Twitter posts) from journalists, advocates and citizens of various political stripes. If you want to follow professional journalists’ posts, we highly recommend @LauraLeslie (WUNC radio’s capitol reporter), @binker (Mark Binker of the News & Record), @Josh_Ellis (of StateGovernmentRadio.com) and @Barry_Smith (of N.C.’s Freedom Newspapers).
North Carolina, media bullying bill, media, NC General Assembly, Paul Stam, twitter
Matt Saldaña ·
28 Jan 2009, 5:48 PM ·
1 Comment
Well, that was fast. Within one hour of the 2009-10 N.C. General Assembly’s opening session–and shortly after being defeated, along party lines, by Joe Hackney, D-Chatham, for the position of House Speaker–Rep. Paul Stam, R-Wake, invoked the Defense of Marriage Act. He did so while arguing, fruitlessly, against temporarily approving the legislature’s house rules, a formality of the inaugural session.
Apparently, Stam’s disapproval has also been an opening-day formality, at least for the past two decades.
“It’s been since 1989 that I’ve voted to approve the temporary rules,” he said.
At issue was the technical definition of “committee chair” that, according to the rules, also includes co-chairs. In the case of the all-powerful appropriations committee, Stam noted, that means a total of eight positions doled out by Speaker Hackney and his Democratic majority–in addition to the party-apportioned committee membership.
“In 2009, we are going to have a tough budget year. Major decisions will be decided by the co-chairs solely,” Stam claimed. “If I were in the majority party, I’d want to share some of that pain.”
Stam turned to the Defense of Marriage Act, which would constitutionally prohibit same-sex couples from marrying, as an example of why he’s upset the majority party is hogging all that pain.
“We’re the only state in the Southeast without a marriage amendment,” he said, owing to the bill not being heard “because of these rules.”
Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, who nominated Stam for the speaker position with an odd speech that invoked “The Dark Night” (”It’s always darkest before the dawn”) and something about how “the beautiful red cardinal returns after the pall of winter is lifted,” also backed up Stam on his motion to deny the rules.
That prompted Bill Owens, D-Camden–who made the original motion to accept the rules– to reply: “If you’ve got the votes, Rep. Lewis, you can change (the rules).”
Continue reading »
North Carolina, media, news, politics Bill Owens, David Lewis, Joe Hackney, NC General Assembly, Paul Stam
