Central and Eastern Kentucky
(2010-01-07)
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(L-R) Carrie Ross, Diana Ross and House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, present Amanda's Bill to the House Judiciary committee. Carrie is Amanda Ross' sister. Diana is Amanda's mother. The committee voted unanimously to move the bill to the House floor.
Photo by Tony McVeigh (Click image to enlarge)
(CLICK ARROW ON BAR ABOVE TO HEAR TONY'S REPORT)
The House Judiciary committee voted unanimously for Amanda's Bill, named for Amanda Ross, who was slain outside her Lexington townhome last fall. Accused of her murder is former lawmaker Steve Nunn. The committee vote drew praise from House Speaker Greg Stumbo, the bill's primary sponsor.
"Our goal is to get what we hope will be model legislation for the rest of the nation," says Stumbo. "And we obviously welcome everyone's input. And as you heard today, the questions were, I thought, very good. They'd obviously taken a lot of time to research the bill and look at the differences between the committee sub and the actual bill that was originally proposed. And I'm very pleased with that."
The measure, known as House Bill One, now moves to the House floor. Speaker Stumbo says it likely will receive a floor vote next Tuesday.
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE HEARING)
Speaker Greg Stumbo is pleased with the committee's quick action on the bill.
"From the response that the members have given so far and the reception that the committee gave to the bill, I think it's pretty clear there's a great deal of support for it," says Stumbo.
Prior to the committee vote, Rep. Tom Riner, D-Louisville, spoke eloquently on the bill.
"The fact that the Speaker of the House is bringing this bill lets us all know that, in the body, in the General Assembly, we all feel a sense of deep shame that a member, or former member of this body, would have ever been involved in this type of thing," says Riner.
Steve Nunn remains incarcerated, awaiting trial for the murder of his ex-fiance, Amanda Ross.
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