Wrongfully convicted Christopher Tapp shares reaction to governor vetoing compensation bill

Governor Little vetoed the widely-supported wrongful conviction compensation bill.

Christopher Tapp shares his reaction.

GOVERNOR LITTLEVETOED HOUSE BILL3-8-4, ALSO KNOWNAS "THE WRONGFULCONVICTIONCOMPENSATION BILL"SURPRISING MANY...DUE TO THEWIDESPREADBIPARTISAN SUPPORTIT WAS SHOWNTHROUGHOUT THELEGISLATIVESESSION.THE BILL WOULDHAVE MADE IDAHO'SWRONGFULLYCONVICTED...ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE60 THOUSANDDOLLARS PER YEARTHAT THEY WEREINCARCERATED --OR... 75 THOUSANDPER YEAR IF THEYWERE ON DEATHROW.THE LEGISLATIONWAS INSPIRED BYTHE STORY OFCHRISTOPHER TAPP --WHO SPENT 20YEARS IN PRISONFOR A CRIME -- THATD-N-A EVIDENCELATER PROVED -- HEDIDN'T COMMIT.HE WAS RELEASEDWITHOUT MORE THANAN APOLOGY."MY NAME'S CLEAN; ICAN HOLD MY HEADUP HIGH, BECAUSE IKNOW THE TRUTH,AND THE REST OFTHE WORLD KNOWSTHE TRUTH THAT IWAS TRULYINNOCENT.

THIS ISJUST ANOTHERTHING YA KNOWANOTHER SET BACK.AND I HOPE NEXTYEAR WHEN THEOPPORTUNITYARISES AGAIN THATI'M ABLE TO HAVE THESAME HEARTFELTWARMTH THAT WASGIVEN TO ME--AGAIN."IN HIS VETOLETTER... GOVERNORLITTLE SAID HIS MAINCONCERNS WERETHE COURT COSTS...THE COMPENSATIONAMOUNTS...AND THAT THE BILLWOULD HAVE GIVENTHE WRONGFULLYCONVICTED ACCESSTO STATE HEALTHINSURANCE... ANDEDUCATION CREDITHOURS.IN DECEMBER... TAPPFILED AN INTENT TOSUE THE IDAHO FALLSPOLICE DEPARTMENTFOR REPARATIONSAFTER SPENDINGTWO DECAD