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Abolishing the Death Penalty

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 01:00:36 PM EST

( - promoted by Jay Lassiter)

(Trenton)--
3:23p Update 4. At long last, the OLS report is being laid out. Aftering 2+ hours of gutwrenching testimony (and some random verbal diarrhea from outgoing senator Asselta) the main event finally at hand. The part about costs. Then a vote. And then I can go home and reflect.

2:23p Update 3: the Catholic Church is making their position known loudly and proudly. Rock on, Bishop! Vote any minute! I swear!

2:05p Update 2, Lesniak is making a statement. The vote to release the bill is forthcoming.

Lesniak: "I have the votes."

*12:59p* Update! I pulled Sen. Ray Lesniak aside as he arrived to read the tea leaves. His reply: "tell Blue Jersey I have the votes."

The next step in the long march to abolish the death penalty in NJ happens in a few minutes. The Senate Budget Committee is hearing an economic impact study from the Office of Legislative Services. Morals notwithstanding, the death penalty is very very costly to maintain. And while life in prison w/out parole isn't cheap (~$32,ooo/year) the cost of capital punishment is even more. According to the OLS, the state would save just shy of $1.5m annually, mostly in public defender and judiciary trial costs by taking death off the table.

Anyway, in a few minutes the Committee will hear the OLS' report and hopefully release the bill to the full Senate for a vote, possibly next week. The momentum is palpable and the room is standing room only in here.

Sen. Bernie Kenny is the committee chairman, and it'll be interesting to see if he's fully recovered from his, umm, driveby whatever to make the trip. Hopefully he's fit and ready to vote, he's been a durably ally on this one for as long as I've been paying attention.

Stay tuned.

Jay Lassiter :: Abolishing the Death Penalty

Tags: capital punishment, Abolish, new jersey, Trenton, OLS, death penalty, njadp, (All Tags)

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Abolishing the Death Penalty | 8 comments

Thanks to you & Dottie (0.00 / 0)

for keeping us up to date on this legislation.

I agree with Dottie, getting this passed would be a great way to end the year.

by: kwilkinson @ Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 18:36:09 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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saving the best for last.... (0.00 / 0)

....the capital punishment bill is last on today's agenda.

activist for hire.

by: Jay Lassiter @ Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 18:49:41 PM UTC

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by: you @ soon

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keep us posted, please! (0.00 / 0)

Jay, obviously we didn't make it--

lI know you'll let us know what happens--up to the minute, bless you!

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Teddy Roosevelt)

by: DottieG @ Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 19:16:22 PM UTC

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Live audio! (0.00 / 0)

I'm listening to it now--Senator Russo is now testifying against the bill.

It's on live audio feed through the state legislature's website.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Teddy Roosevelt)

by: DottieG @ Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 19:55:43 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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wow (0.00 / 0)

Listening to the testimony of members of families of murder victims who favor abolishing the death penalty moved me to tears.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." (Teddy Roosevelt)

by: DottieG @ Mon Dec 03, 2007 at 20:36:33 PM UTC

by: you @ soon

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the families (0.00 / 0)

here is a group of folks who lost a loved one to violent crime. They stand to protest the assertion that capital punishmen somehow brings closure to the families.