Bartlett opposes execution

A spokesman for Rep. Roscoe Bartlett on Wednesday said the 6th District Republican has changed his mind on the death penalty, after recent research shows capital punishment is being unfairly applied.

"He decided that the evidence has accumulated that in the attempt to apply the death penalty, it is unfair," said Lisa Wright, Dr. Bartlett's press aide.

Recent studies show the poor are executed disproportionately. And the evidence shows the financial cost of imposing a death sentence is greater than life imprisonment, she said.

The announcement follows a statement at a candidates forum in Columbia on Sunday where Dr. Bartlett revealed he no longer supported capital punishment.

Donald DeArmon, the Democrat running against the four-term incumbent, noted Dr. Bartlett has a public record of votes supporting the death penalty.

"If he's switched his position, that's great," Mr. DeArmon said. "We'll see how it plays out in terms of his actual votes."

Ms. Wright said her boss has voted for legislation that has included death penalty provisions, but they were large packages that contained other elements Dr. Bartlett could support.

His opposition manifested itself Wednesday, she said, when he voted against a measure that would have put the House on record of supporting capital punishment for murder.

"He has always opposed the death penalty as a means of exacting revenge for crimes," she said.

Dr. Bartlett believes criminals have to be held responsible, but the death penalty is inappropriate punishment, she said.

He has come to this position because he's a "reflective person," Ms. Wright said.

She didn't know how his Seventh-day Adventist faith factored into the switch.

"His religious faith informs the manner in which he analyzes legislation and positions," Ms. Wright said. "He has not made that specific connection with respect to the death penalty, to my knowledge."