The Springfield News-Leader publishes the OpEd, "Death penalty: Questioning cost of punishment," by Donna Walmsley.
With only a few weeks into the new legislative session, our state senators and representatives are striving hard to attain a balanced budget.One public policy program that needs to be reviewed is Missouri’s death penalty.
And:
In Missouri, the budget is strained to provide Medicaid services to needy citizens. Education cuts not only hurt our children but our entire state.It is time that we begin questioning the cost of the death penalty versus a sentence of life without any possibility of parole. Senate Bill 61 is calling for a careful study of how much the death penalty is actually costing Missouri taxpayers.
Sen. Mike Parson is chair of the Government Accountability Committee hearing that bill, determining soon if it should move forward.
It makes sense that our representatives in Jefferson City, stewards of our taxpayer dollars, investigate the cost of executions in Missouri to determine if, in these times of economic hardships and deep budget cuts, the death penalty is an expense that we can afford.
Earlier coverage of the Missouri legislation begins at the link. Related posts are in the cost category index.
Comments