Conn. Death Penalty Faces Second Vote In General Assembly
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP/CBSNewYork) - A bill that would abolish Connecticut's death penalty for all future cases is facing its second vote in the General Assembly.
Members of the state's House of Representatives are scheduled to take up the legislation on Wednesday afternoon.
The proposed bill would abolish the death penalty for all future cases, but would not directly affect the sentences of the 11 inmates currently on Connecticut's death row. Individuals convicted under the proposed legislation would receive sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of release in lieu of the death penalty.
The state Senate approved a repeal bill after nearly 11 hours of debate last week.
"From my personal standpoint, the death penalty should be retained," State Sen. Len Fasano told WCBS 880. "I think the bill was a good bill to vote against because it's unconstitutional and illogical."
In a poll last month, Conn. voters said they did not want to see the state's death penalty repealed, with 62 percent saying it would be a bad idea.
Connecticut has carried out only one execution in 51 years, when serial killer Michael Ross was administered lethal injection in 2005.
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy has said if the bill passes, he would sign it into law.
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