Maryland votes to abolish Death Penalty

[Tender Branson]

The Maryland Senate voted to repeal the death penalty Wednesday after four days of emotional debate, moving the state closer to becoming the sixth in as many years to abolish executions.

The 27 to 20 vote was widely seen as a key step in ending capital punishment in Maryland, which has not executed a death-row prisoner since 2005. The legislation now goes before the House of Delegates, where a vote could come as early as next week.

The House is expected to approve the measure, handing Gov. Martin O’Malley a long-sought legislative victory at a time when he is weighing a run for national office in 2016.

“It’s time to end this ineffective and expensive practice and put our efforts behind crime fighting strategies that work,” O’Malley (D) said in a statement.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/death-penalty-repeal-approved-by-maryland-senate/2013/03/06/368ef95a-8663-11e2-999e-5f8e0410cb9d_story.html

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Lots of fake Democrats in the Maryland Senate clearly. But great news.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Lots of fake Democrats in the Maryland Senate clearly. But great news.

[Benj]

Good news! I believe this failed in the MD Senate before after passing the House, so it looks inevitable at this point. The steady stream of states abolishing the death penalty over the past few years is really heartening.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Ugh.  But, whatever.  They haven't used it in 7 years anyway since the practice was suspended, so big effing deal.

[Tender Branson]

Good news! I believe this failed in the MD Senate before after passing the House, so it looks inevitable at this point. The steady stream of states abolishing the death penalty over the past few years is really heartening.

It could go much faster if CA decided for once to stop being stupid.

[Tender Branson]

BTW: Colorado and Kansas will also have bills introduced in the coming days to abolish it.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Awesome!

[RogueBeaver]

In a few years most blue states will have done this. News at 11.

[Obamanation]

Lots of fake Democrats in the Maryland Senate clearly. But great news.

Next time think before posting. Kthnxbye

[Tender Branson]

Lots of fake Democrats in the Maryland Senate clearly. But great news.

Next time think before posting. Kthnxbye

What's wrong with his post ?

The vote was 27-20 in favor.

The MD Senate is made up of 33 Dems and 14 Republicans.

2 Republicans voted "Yes", which means there were 8 Democratic traitors who voted "No".

That is every 4th Democrat, which can be of course considered as "lots of fake Democrats".

[Sol]

Excellent. The Death Penalty is pretty abhorrent.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

That is every 4th Democrat, which can be of course considered as "lots of fake Democrats".

Except the part where supporting the death penalty makes you "fake Democrat".  As a Democrat who supports the death penalty I resent that.

[DC Al Fine]

Good to see the state leaving the killing business.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Other than maybe Carter, have any Democratic presidents opposed the death penalty?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

BTW: Colorado and Kansas will also have bills introduced in the coming days to abolish it.

If Brownback were anything other than completely in hock to the bizarrely selective delineation of what constitutes being 'pro-life' in the current political landscape, he'd back abolition in Kansas with all he's got.

[Vosem]

Unfortunate, but MD's the sort of place I'm surprised still has it, so.

[Indy Texas]

Looking at the map on Wikipedia of states with no death penalty, it seems like the Upper Midwest is the epicenter of not executing people. Is there any long-term historical reason for this? Is "Minnesota nice" really that nice?

[Frodo]

Looking at the map on Wikipedia of states with no death penalty, it seems like the Upper Midwest is the epicenter of not executing people. Is there any long-term historical reason for this? Is "Minnesota nice" really that nice?

Except for the Northeast, isn't the Upper Midwest among the most Catholic part of the country?  Maybe that has something do with their aversion to capital punishment. 

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

That is every 4th Democrat, which can be of course considered as "lots of fake Democrats".

Except the part where supporting the death penalty makes you "fake Democrat".  As a Democrat who supports the death penalty I resent that.

You're also a "Democrat" who thinks Jimmy Carter is a terrorist supporter and that George W. Bush legitimately and fairly won Florida in the 2000 election.

[TJ in Oregon]

BTW: Colorado and Kansas will also have bills introduced in the coming days to abolish it.

If Brownback were anything other than completely in hock to the bizarrely selective delineation of what constitutes being 'pro-life' in the current political landscape, he'd back abolition in Kansas with all he's got.

Brownback is against capital punishment at least nominally anyway:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

[RI]

At least one issue is moving in the right direction.

[politicallefty]

Brownback is against capital punishment at least nominally anyway:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

That's actually pretty impressive. I never actually imagined Sam Brownback being opposed to the death penalty. I'll give him some good credit for being consistent with a pro-life position in that respect. I hope he'll support abolition of the death penalty in Kansas with the support of his office as Governor. Unfortunately, I don't see much hope there when you consider the extremely reactionary legislature.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

BTW: Colorado and Kansas will also have bills introduced in the coming days to abolish it.

If Brownback were anything other than completely in hock to the bizarrely selective delineation of what constitutes being 'pro-life' in the current political landscape, he'd back abolition in Kansas with all he's got.

Brownback is against capital punishment at least nominally anyway:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Good. I sincerely hope he puts the authority and persuasive power of his office where his mouth is.

[morgieb]

BTW: Colorado and Kansas will also have bills introduced in the coming days to abolish it.

If Brownback were anything other than completely in hock to the bizarrely selective delineation of what constitutes being 'pro-life' in the current political landscape, he'd back abolition in Kansas with all he's got.

Brownback is against capital punishment at least nominally anyway:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

Props to Brownback for being properly pro-life.