LOCAL NEWS
GOVERNOR PLEASED DEATH PENALTY REPEAL BILL FAILED
By DOUBLE Q COUNTRY RADIO
Mar 26, 2008 - 9:38:23 AM

Nebraska lawmakers rejected a measure to repeal the death penalty Tuesday, a month after the courts left the state with no way to execute its killers.

Only Twenty senators voted for the bill (LB1063) to change the maximum penalty to life in prison without possibility of parole. Twenty five was needed to pass the bill.

Western Nebraska Senators John Harms of Scottsbluff, Phil Erdman of Bayard and LeRoy Louden of Ellsworth were among those that opposed the bill.

The state Supreme Court ruled in February that the electric chair, the state's sole means of putting inmates to death, amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.

Governor Heineman says the state needs to concentrate on finding a legal method of execution.   Click below to hear Heineman audio.

Heineman has not decided whether to introduce a lethal injection bill this session, wait until after it ends and call a special session, or put the issue on hold until next year's session.