'The Factor' Confronts Four Negligent Governors

This is a rush transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," July 14, 2008. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

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BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Factor Follow-up" segment tonight: As we've been reporting, 40 states have Jessica's Law or some semblance of it. That is tough mandatory prison sentences for child rapists.

The eight states that don't have Jessica's Law are Idaho, Illinois, Wyoming, Colorado, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Vermont. North Carolina and New Mexico continue to debate the issue.

Now over the weekend there was a governor's conference in Philadelphia, where we sought out the Vermont governor because that state is the worst in protecting the kids. As you may know, 12-year-old Brooke Bennett was buried last week in Vermont after being raped and murdered there. For years, we've been suggesting that Vermont Governor Jim Douglas do something about this terrible situation. Jesse Watters confronted him on Saturday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE WATTERS, "FACTOR" PRODUCER: Hey, governor, Jesse Watters with "The O'Reilly Factor" at FOX News. How are you?

GOV. JIM DOUGLAS, R-VT.: Good, good.

WATTERS: Quick question for you. Vermont seems to be out of control right now. You guys just buried 12-year-old Brooke Bennett. How do you explain that to the American people?

DOUGLAS: We're not out of control at all. We're going to do everything we can to make sure we put in place laws that deal harshly with people who commit crimes like that. I need a willing partner in the legislature, and frankly I haven't had that.

WATTERS: About how many dead girls are we going to tolerate here? I mean, over and over again, it's another story after another story out of Vermont?

DOUGLAS: One dead girl is one too many. I attended the funeral of Brooke Bennett last week and met with her family, her friends, with people in the community. It's a devastating impact, and we need to be sure that we do something about it. As the pastor said at the funeral, Brooke's life will have meaning if we take action, and I plan to do that.

WATTERS: Do you realize how much damage this is causing the state of Vermont?

DOUGLAS: I don't know what you mean.

WATTERS: I mean, how much damage in terms of international and national reputation. And Vermont's really getting a bad name after all these cases, case after case after case.

DOUGLAS: Well, things are going quite well for us economically.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: Well, obviously, Governor Douglas is blaming the legislature, but you, sir, must lead. Your voice has not been loud enough. I think he's a good man, but I don't think he's a strong man.

Across the border in Massachusetts, there is a different situation. Power brokers in that state don't seem to want Jessica's Law. "Factor" producer Dan Bank caught up with Governor Deval Patrick.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAN BANK, "FACTOR" PRODUCER: Governor Patrick, Dan Bank with "The O'Reilly Factor" at FOX News.

GOV. DEVAL PATRICK, D-MASSACHUSETTS: Dan, how are you? I'm enjoying my coffee.

BANK: I'm wondering when your state is going to pass Jessica's Law? Forty-two other states have it. I'm wondering when your state will?

PATRICK: Well, the legislature's in session for two and a half more weeks. I hope they'll get it done. I think they're planning to get it done before they go out.

BANK: Will you sign Jessica's Law if it gets sent to your desk?

PATRICK: We'll see what shape it comes to me.

BANK: Well, do you support a 25-year mandatory minimum for child rapists?

PATRICK: We will see what shape it comes to me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: A little arrogant there, wouldn't you say? Translation: Governor Patrick could not care less.

The same may hold true for Governor Jon Corzine of New Jersey.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATTERS: Hey, governor, Jesse Watters with "The O'Reilly Factor" at FOX News. How are you?

GOV. JON CORZINE, D-N.J.: How are you doing?

WATTERS: Hey, we just wanted to know if you supported Jessica's Law 25-year mandatory minimum sentence for child rapists?

CORZINE: Well, we have one of the toughest laws in New Jersey, and we're the ones that started this movement and I support those laws.

WATTERS: You guys have 25-year mandatory minimum for child rapists?

CORZINE: You know, we have what — Megan's Law, which actually started this whole movement. So I don't know how it matches up exactly with that, but we have one of the strongest set of laws in the country.

WATTERS: I'm not sure if it's the mandatory minimum, sir, with all due respect.

CORZINE: That I couldn't tell you because I haven't actually, you know, wasn't prepared for the question today. But I know we have the strictest laws in the country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: As usual, we have to explain to Governor Corzine that strict laws don't matter unless they're enforced. That's why you need mandatory sentences.

On another note, we were curious what Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius thought of recent criminal charges against Dr. George Tiller, so-called named "Tiller the Baby Killer." As "The Factor" has been reporting, this man will terminate fetuses at any time for $5,000.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WATTERS: Hey, governor, how are you? It's Jesse Watters with "The O'Reilly Factor" from FOX News.

GOV. KATHLEEN SEBELIUS, D-KAN.: Hi. How are you?

WATTERS: How are you? Hey what are you...

SEBELIUS: We're going here?

WATTERS: What do you think about Dr. George Tiller?

SEBELIUS: I don't think anything about Dr. George Tiller.

WATTERS: You know, the late-term abortion doctor in your state?

SEBELIUS: Yes.

WATTERS: You don't have an opinion of him?

SEBELIUS: He's a health care provider in Kansas.

WATTERS: You know, he was largely not indicted because of a technicality in Kansas law.

SEBELIUS: There was a grand jury who found no charges to bring against him.

WATTERS: You know, there was a lot of evidence there that he was performing illegal late-term abortions and covering up instances of child rape.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'REILLY: He's a health care provider according to Governor Sebelius. Well, Tiller himself donated money to her campaign. She doesn't seem to be real upset about this guy operating a death mill, which is exactly what it is in her state, does she?

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