The End of the Death Penalty?

[struggle4progress]

A bill to repeal capital punishment in New Mexico breathes new life into a fierce debate
By Simon McCormack

In 2005 and 2007, Gail Chasey’s legislation suffered stinging defeats.

The Democratic representative from Albuquerque saw her bill to end capital punishment languish in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Even if her bill had made it to a full vote in the Senate, Chasey admits she’s not sure it would have gotten to Gov. Bill Richardson’s desk. “We may have lost it if we had gotten it to the Senate floor,” Chasey says. "I'll tell you now; we have the votes this year in the Senate.”

Rep. Chasey’s bill to replace the death penalty with a sentence of life without parole made it past the House in 2005 and 2007. Chasey expects her legislation to clear the House again this year. Several new senators, Chasey says, should vote in favor of her bill.

If the measure makes it through the Legislature, the question then becomes: Will it be signed by Richardson? The governor’s spokesperson, Gilbert Gallegos, declined to comment. In an e-mail, Gallegos wrote that the governor typically refrains from commenting on legislation he has not proposed ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=post&forum=168

[rpannier]

1. Here is hoping it succeeds

nt