Committee Vote: Unfavorable on Death Penalty 2-27-09

The Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee (JPR) held a committee vote Friday on the death penalty repeal bill (Senate Bill 279 - Criminal Law - Death Penalty - Repeal). 

The bill failed on a vote of 5 in favor and 6 against.  All Republican Senators on JPR voted against the bill. 

Most bills from committee voting sessions held on Friday will be reported to the Senate floor on the following Tuesday.  Thus it is anticipated that the JPR report listing Senate Bill 279 with an unfavorable committee vote will be on the Senate floor next Tuesday.

Proponents of the death penalty repeal state that they will attempt a procedural vote to reject the unfavorable report of the committee and substitute the bill for consideration by the entire Senate on the floor.  Although the vote would be procedural, that motion would require a floor vote of all Senators on the death penalty repeal.

A copy of the committee vote sheet is shown below.