Lawmakers: Ill. gov. intends to ban death penalty

Source: Associated Press

Lawmakers: Ill. gov. intends to ban death penalty
Posted: Mar 08, 2011 9:27 PM CST
Updated: Mar 08, 2011 9:27 PM CST
By DEANNA BELLANDI
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) - The sponsors of a bill to abolish the death penalty in Illinois say Gov. Pat Quinn's staff told them he intends to sign the bill at a signing ceremony Wednesday.

State Rep. Karen Yarbrough and state Sen. Kwame Raoul told The Associated Press on Tuesday that they have been invited to the bill signing in Quinn's Springfield office.

Quinn's office declined to comment Tuesday about his intentions.

Illinois would join 15 other states and the District of Columbia without the death penalty. The new law would take effect July 1.



Read more: http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=14214116

n/t

We had done it at one point -- and then reversed by the right wing at huge

expense to the states!!

at least we are providing a safe haven for politicians with a conscious from a few of the surrounding states currently
Wish we could influence the elsewhere by action -lifelong Illinois citizen

That God that loonie he ran against didn't win

All too many like tim mcVeigh find jesus and feel they've been forgiven so all is well. They're ready for the golden gates or whatever so how is that punishment I ask?

McVeigh still sitting his ass in a cell somewhere with no hope of any overs, now that would be punishment

:evilgrin:

Source: Chicago SunTimes

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Quinn Wednesday signed landmark legislation to repeal the state’s “seriously broken” death penalty and then commuted the death sentences of the 15 men currently on death row.

“We cannot have a death penalty in our state that kills innocent people,” Quinn said. “If the system cannot be guaranteed 100 percent error free, then we cannot have the system. It cannot stand. It just is not right.”

The governor’s highly anticipated move, which he said he arrived at over the weekend, adds Illinois to 15 other states that have abolished the death penalty since the late 1970s.

“I felt once the decision was made to sign the law abolishing the death penalty, it should be abolished for all,” Quinn said of commuting the existing death sentences. “I do believe the evil-doers should be punished severely in prison without parole ... but without the death penalty.”

Read more: http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/4225981-418/gov.-pat-quinn-signs-bill-repealing-illinois-death-penalty