Post by carolinem on Apr 1, 2009 2:32:17 GMT -5
A P - March 30, 2009 2:14 PM ET
HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A Montana House committee decided Monday that the state will keep its death penalty, fighting back a strong push to ban it.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 against the ban. The measure had previously cleared the GOP-controlled Senate, giving death penalty opponents hope that it could clear the Legislature this year.
It would be difficult, but not impossible, for those pushing the ban to bring the bill back this year.
Supporters of Senate Bill 236 argue it is more expensive to enforce a death penalty than it is to pay for mandatory life in prison without parole, and that the risk of accidentally executing an innocent man is too great.
Those seeking to keep the death penalty in place say any problems with the current system can be fixed.