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Nebraska Legislature to Debate Abolishing Death Penalty

03/10/2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The full Legislature will consider repealing Nebraska's death penalty, and the senator pushing the proposal says he's optimistic it could happen.

A committee unanimously advanced the bill Monday.

Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha has fought for 40 years to end capital punishment and says his bill has "as good a chance to getting passed as has ever been."

The Legislature approved a repeal in 1979 but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Charles Thone.

Chambers says conservative Republican senators are approaching him with practical questions about the bill's implementation, making him more optimistic.

Death penalty opponents say it prolongs suffering for victims' relatives and wastes tax money on appeals.

Senators would likely have to override a veto by Gov. Pete Ricketts, who supports the death penalty.

Currently two people on Death Row in Nebraska were sentenced to death in Richardson County District Court. They are Michael Ryan and John Lotter.

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