We had a Democratic governor sign a ban on the death penalty this year

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/09/us-illinois-death-penalty-idUSTRE72875I20110309

Illinois governor signs death penalty ban

By Andrew Stern and Mary Wisniewski

CHICAGO | Wed Mar 9, 2011 4:59pm EST

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The governor of Illinois signed a law on Wednesday ending capital punishment, saying it was impossible to fix a system that wrongly condemned 20 men who were later found to be innocent.

When the law signed by Democratic Governor Pat Quinn takes effect on July 1, Illinois will become the fourth state in the past two years to dispense with the death penalty after New York, New Jersey and New Mexico.

"To have a consistent, perfect death penalty system ... that's impossible in our state," Quinn told reporters. "I think it's the right and just thing to abolish the death penalty and punish those who commit heinous crimes -- evil people -- with life in prison without parole and no chance of release."

The ultimate punishment will remain an option in 34 states and for federal inmates. No other Western democracies carries out executions.

"It is naive to think that we haven't executed an innocent person ...

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His margin of victory last election over a clone of Wisconsin Republican governor Scott Walker was less than 20,000 votes.

[frazzled]

1. My governor, too

And it was a brave act. I wrote him a long letter before his decision about my reasons for opposing capital punishment, as did thousands of others. But he was facing stiff opposition from law enforcement and prosecutors.

This is not Governor Quinn's only brave act. He also ran on a pledge to raise state income taxes, hardly a popular idea among voters but a soberingly necessary one. He also just vetoed the ComEd bill. He is seen as weak in many ways, but I see him as an extraordinarily courageous, if quiet, governor. I hope he and his Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon continue to govern for another term here.

[The Wielding Truth]

3. Wow. It is unusual these days to hear of a civil reasonable leader.

[Bluebear]

2. What's your point

[trumad]

5. Why do they need a point?

Good for the Gov.

[Bluebear]

6. I'm thrilled with the gov

Just wondered what the op infers with his electoral margin

[frazzled]

7. I think the OP was inferring that ...

to have a reasonable, progressive governor such as Quinn is not a certainty ... that his hold on power is tenuous. And perhaps, by extension, that we should acknowledge his successes.

[Saturday]

4. A Democratic Governor signed the law....

but a Republican (Ryan, who happens to be in jail right now) stopped them with a moratorium several years ago. Just giving credit where credit is due from an IL resident.

[in_cog_ni_to]

8. Right. I was blown away when he did that. I know the man and his wife, who just died.

They are from my area in the state. That was the last thing I ever expected him to do....being a Rethug.