Doug Finke posts, "Death penalty abolishment bill moves to full House," at the Springfield State Journal-Register.
On a partisan vote, a House judiciary committee approved a bill abolishing the death penalty and sent it to the full House.
Four Democrats on the committee voted for Senate Bill 3539 while three Republicans opposed it.
Jeremy Schroeder of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, said Illinois has the second highest rate of exonerations for death row inmate in the nation. He also said the state has pumped $100 million into the Capital Litigation Trust Fund since 2003 even though the state continues to have a moratorium on executions.“That is just money tossed away,” he said.
However, a succession of state’s attorneys -- including Kevin Lyons of Peoria and Joe Bruscato of Winnebago -- argued the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for heinous crimes.
"Ill. committee recommends abolishing death penalty," is the AP brief, via the Chicago Tribune.
An Illinois House committee is narrowly recommending abolishing the death penalty.
A judiciary panel voted 4-3 Tuesday to send abolition legislation to the House floor. Democratic Rep. Karen Yarbrough of Maywood says she might call a full House vote later in the day.
Former Gov. George Ryan suspended executions in 2000 because 13 condemned men were later exonerated or evidence against them was ruled improper. No one has been executed in Illinois since then.
The legislation is SB 3539. Earlier coverage begins with this post.
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