Senator Nancy Jacobs: Important Update on Death Penalty Legislation

Senator Nancy Jacobs: Important Update on Death Penalty Legislation

Maryland Senator Nancy Jacobs R-Dist. 34 Cecil and Harford Counties, e-mailed earlier today about the latest news on the death penalty legislation on the Maryland General Assembly.

She also partially answered a question that I have had in the back of my head; and that is if the Maryland Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 6 to 5 against SB 279 to repeal the death, then how did it make it to the Senate floor…?

Here’s what Senator Jacobs reported at 3:03 pm:

Dear Friend:

On Friday, the Maryland Senate's Judicial Proceedings Committee voted 5 FOR to 6 AGAINST S.B. 279--repeal of the death penalty. As a member of the Senate Judicial Proceedings I can say with authority that our committee feels that Maryland should keep the death penalty on our legal books. We killed it in our committee.

But in a rare procedural move, the full Maryland Senate considered changing our committee's unfavorable report to a favorable report. According to Senate President Mike Miller, this procedure has been used once before in 30 years. The Maryland Senate voted 25-22 to change the report and 24-23 to send the bill to second reader. Second reader is where amendments may be added to a bill. If the bill passes 2nd reader it moves to 3rd reader where open floor debates, and yes, the possibility of filibusters loom large.

You can view the procedural vote and the second reader votes please visit the posting on MDSenategop.com.

http://www.mdsenategop.com

The close votes indicate some senators are hemming and hawing over their support or opposition to the death penalty.

Should you support maintaining the death penalty then I strongly urge you to call Maryland Senate offices today telling them to support the death penalty and to support a filabuster if it comes down to one. You can call 1-800-492-7122 or 410-946-5400 and ask for the respective senate offices.

Sincerely,

Nancy Jacobs

20090303 Senator Jacobs Imp Update on Death Penalty Leg

Kevin Dayhoff www.kevindayhoff.net http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/
Kevin Dayhoff: www.westgov.net Westminster Maryland Online www.westminstermarylandonline.net http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/