The Maryland Senate session is streaming. Click on the Live button on the right, center portion of the Maryland General Assembly home page.
"Maryland Senate begins debate on death penalty," is the title of Michael Dresser's report for the Baltimore Sun.
The Senate began its floor debate Friday on a bill that would make Maryland the 18th state in the nation to eliminate the death penalty.
Supporters of death penalty repeal expressed confidence that they have enough votes to repeal all of the expected amendments seeking to create exceptions.
Senators are expected to spend Friday morning voting on proposed amendments, with a strong possibility the bill could receive preliminary approval before the end of the day. If the measure clears that hurdle, a final vote is expected next week."It's clear we have 26 public votes. I don't expect any of them to waver," said Jane Henderson, executive director of Maryland Citizens Against State Executions. It takes 24 votes to pass a bill in the 47-member Senate.
"Md. Senate begins debate on repealing the death penalty," by John Wagner at the Washington Post.
The Maryland Senate on Friday, shortly after 9:30 a.m., launched into what is expected to be a lengthy and emotional debate on repealing the death penalty .
The bill, sponsored by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D), would replace capital punishment with life without the possibility of parole. A final Senate vote is expected next week. If the bill passes, it moves next to the House of Delegates. It would make Maryland the 18th state to repeal the death penalty.
The chamber is expected to consider numerous amendments to a bill that passed out the Judicial Proceedings Committee last week.
"Maryland Senate to consider death penalty repeal," is the AP post, via the Republic.
The Senate is set to consider amendments to the bill on Friday.
A vote on the measure is not expected until next week.
Maryland has five men on death row. The state's last execution was in 2005.
Maryland's death penalty has been on hold since a 2006 court ruling found the state's lethal injection protocols weren't properly approved by a legislative committee.
Earlier coverage of the Maryland repeal legislation begins at the link.
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