Illinois poised to eliminate death penalty

[terrya]

I can't believe Governor Quinn would veto this. We've had a moritorium in my state for several years. As Mr. Schroeder said, it's time to get rid of this thing.

I'm rather proud of my state today.


CHICAGO (Reuters) – Illinois was poised to become the first state since 2009 to abolish the death penalty after the state Senate approved the ban on Tuesday and sent it to Democratic Governor Pat Quinn for his signature.

The Senate vote came after House approval late last week. The Senate vote was 32-25.

Illinois has not executed anyone for more than a decade after former Republican Gov. George Ryan imposed a moratorium on the death penalty in January 2000 following a series of revelations that people had been sent to Death Row who were later found to be innocent.

"We've had 20 innocent people on Death Row," said Jeremy Schroeder, executive director of the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. "It's time to be done with the moratorium and do the right thing."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110111/us_nm/us_executions_illinois_4

[madrchsod]

1. i doubt he will.i never thought that it would pass....

i guess everyone is worried but that 75%! tax increase.

[terrya]

2. I wanted the medical marijuana bill to pass.

But within a couple of months...this, the civil unions bill. Not bad. :-)

[Drale]

3. He wont veto that bill

even if he's against it, which I don't believe he is, he has bigger things to worry about than the death penalty right now.

[jody]

4. I wish SCOTUS would hold execution unconstitutional because the thought of executing an innocent

person is the most immoral deed that I can imagine.

[DCKit]

5. Wrong SCOTUS for something like that.

The current majority would probably like to impose the death penalty for the poor and unemployed - if they thought they could get away with it.

[jody]

6. I said SCOTUS including future courts and stare decisis is still a compelling principle. n/t

[DCKit]

8. I agree wholly with you jody.

However, after Fat Tonys recent judicial activism in expanding the decision on campaign finance and legitimizing corporate persons, I feel it would be best to keep the important cases away from them.

[Puregonzo1188]

7. Very good news. Remember Illinois had a huge issue of police torture and coerced confessions.

One of the many reasons why the death penalty is simply unacceptable.