Romney Raises Ante In Drunk Driving Bill Debate
http://www.boston.com/new…y%2FRegion+News
[Commentary]
I’m truly hoping that this legislation can restore the previous tough language of the bill. It’s very important that we as a nation stand up for the victims of this type of crime. Think of all the people who die each year because someone couldn’t be responsible enough to not drink and drive.
Tells legislators: Think of victims By Scott S. Greenberger, Globe Staff | October 27, 2005
Governor Mitt Romney turned up pressure yesterday on House and Senate leaders to restore several tough provisions to the drunken-driving bill that lawmakers weakened last week, contending that the bill contains ”loopholes that are so large you could fly a 747 through” them.
The governor called for three changes in the bill, urging lawmakers to allow prosecutors to use court records to prove that a convicted drunk driver is a repeat offender, to lengthen the suspension period for refusing to take a breathalyzer test, and to stiffen the prison sentence for manslaughter by vehicular homicide.
During a press conference with victims’ families, Romney urged lawmakers to consider the roughly 200 Massachusetts residents killed last year by drunk drivers and people who might be killed this year without changes in state law.
”I wish they could be here: two hundred people, children, adults, mothers, fathers, standing in this room,” Romney said. ”They are slated to die this year. If we saw those faces, if we recognized that there is a real human being, living and breathing, loving, a family member, that that person is going to die this year because of a drunk driver, we wouldn’t have this debate going on.”
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