NATION/WORLD UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Monday, April 25, 1994
13
Finney follows promise, not heart
Campaign pledge prompted approval of death penalty bill.
The Associated Press
By John Hanna
TOPEKA — Whether a governor's thinking is shallow or deep often does not affect state policy much.
That was not the case Friday, when Gov. Joe Finney permitted a capital punishment bill to become law without her signature.
She didn't do it because she thinks that death is the proper penalty for brutal murders. She didn't it out of hope that enacting it would deter criminals from violent acts. She didn't even do it because she thought that the state would make a powerful symbolic statement.
The governor was more concerned that people would say she broke a campaign promise — even though most people probably couldn't remember her ever making it. She is not even seeking re-election.
"She had her conscience or her election promise to follow, and she's
ANALYSIS
elected to follow her election promise," said Bill Lucero, one of the state's most vocal activists against capital punishment.
Finney's action stood in strong contrast to former Democratic Gov John Carlin, the state's chief executive from 1979 to 1987.
During his 1978 campaign, Carlin said he might be able to accept a capital punishment bill, and the 1979 Legislature sent him one. His aides reported that he agonized over it for days, torn between his promise and his conscience. He broke his promise then, and again in 1980, 1981 and 1985.
Some Democrats contend privately that Finney felt the need to "one-up" Carlin. People still talk about his change of position and how he broke a campaign promise.
Finney has a longstanding political grudge against Carlin. She clashed with him while he was governor and she was state treasurer, over farm policy in particular.
"Today, I am keeping the promise I made to the people of Kansas when they elected me," Finney said in her
message when she let the death penalty bill become law.
When Finney complained in recent months that reporters were treating her position on capital punishment unfairly, as if it were something new, some newspaper editors in Kansas were confused. They hadn't remembered her making a promise during her 1990 campaign.
She did, but for most of the campaign it remained vague and subject to interpretation, something to which reporters and politicians became accustomed after her election. She said that the "people" — with whom she has repeatedly she has a magical connection — wanted capital punishment and that she wouldn't stand in its way, despite her opposition.
When asked whether Finney felt pressure from opponents of capital punishment, Mary Holladay, her daughter, chief of staff and closest adviser, said she would have felt pressure if she already had not made up her mind.
She made a campaign promise. She wanted to make sure that no one ever said Joan Finney broke it.
Israel realizes need to dismantle settlements
It really was that simple.
The Associated Press
JERUSALEM — Israel will have to embark Jewish settlements in the occupied territories and give up land in any permanent peace arrangement with the Palestinians, the Israeli government said yesterday.
Until now, Israel has refused to commit itself to future peace moves other than the five-year interim period of limited Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho.
"our goal is to come to a separation.",
sailt Agriculture Minister Yaacov Tsur,
who is close to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. "Good neighborliness comes from living next to each other,
notion on top of each."
The Israel-PLO self-rule agreement states that none of the 144 settlemehts, where 120,000 Jews live, would be removed in the interim.
But last week, Rabin said he was
willing to give up territory and dismantle settlements on the Golan Heights in exchange for peace with Syria. PLO chief Yasser Arafat reportedly said he wanted the same deal for the Palestinians.
The development came as Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization returned to negotiations in Cairo. Officials from both sides said they were close to agreement on implementing limited Palestinian self-rule in Gaza and Jericho.
Nabil Shaath, the chief Palestinian delegate, said in Cairo that if all went well an agreement could be signed next week by Arafat and Rabin.
Economics Minister Shimon Shetret said the government hoped to wrap up an agreement by May 5 and that Foreign Minister Shimon Peres would be in Cairo on Thursday to finalize remaining problems.
Palestinians from Israelis arose because of recent violence by opponents to the peace talks. Since the self-rule plan was signed Sept. 13, 159 Palestinians and 41 Israelis have died.
"We must come to the greatest degree of separation because we see terror continuing in the foreseeable future, even with implementation of the agreement,"Tsur said.
Tsur said the aim of separating
Other ministers echoed his remarks.
it's clear that with the final arrangement there will be territorial compromise," said Shetreet, who said that dismantling some settlements was inevitable. "One presumes that Jews will not want to stay under the authority of another country."
Remaining problems for the negotiators in Cairo include what courts will try what citizens, Palestinian identity documents, control over airspace and sea lanes, money, postage stamps and other symbols of statehood.
SEE YOUR LOCAL DODGE DEALER TODAY!
*Graduates must meet eligibility requirements. Not available in conjunction with certain other incentive offers.
See dealer for details. †Excludes Viper (if you can afford a Viper, $400 is pocket change). **Base MSRP
after $400 College Graduate Purchase Allowance. Excludes tax. †Always wear your seat belt.
SCHOOL'S OUT! TEMPORARY WORK'S IN!
The paying assignments are waiting for skilled students who need immediate summertime work. Learn all about the advantages of working as a Manpower temporary. Come visit our booth!
Stop by to fill out an application. Information Table, 4th Floor Kansas Union 10 am -2 pm Tues. April 26 th
MANPOWER
TEMPORARY SERVICES
TOPEKA (913) 267-4060
EMPORIA (316) 342-5751
LAWRENCE (913) 749-2800
OTTAWA (913) 242-1002
WICHITA (316) 685-6111
JUNCTION CITY (913) 762-5500
MANHATTAN (913) 776-1094
TEMPORARY SERVICES
the academic software source...
ayhawk Bookstore only at the top of Naismith Hill! 1420 Crescent Road843-3826
The University of Kansas School of Fine Arts Lied Center Presents A Concert Series Event
"David Parsons is an intriguing performer with a stage presence that shifts tantalizingly between the diabolical and the angelic." -The New York Times
"Jazz, according to Billy Taylor, is 'an American treasure.' And so is he."
-Greenaboro News and Record
Tickets on sale at the Lied Center Box Office (864-ARTS); Murphy Hall Box Office (864-3882); and any ticketmaster outlet (818) 931-3330 or (913) 234-4545; all seats reserved; public $22 and $1, KU, Haskell and I-12 students $10 and $8.50, senior citizens and other students $19 and $16; KU student tickets available through the SUA office, Kansas Union; phone orders can be made using VISA or MasterCard.
Partially funded by the Mid-America Alliance, KU Student Senate Activity Fee, Friends of the Lied Series and the Kansas University Endowment Association. Special thanks to this year's "Wy Importable Partners: Hallmark Care, Inc., Kiell's Audio and Video, Playhouse Stool W and W.T. Kemper Foundation, Commerce Bank Trust.