Astle, Young voice support for repealing Maryland’s death penalty

[DonViejo]

Source: WaPo

By John Wagner, Updated: Tuesday, February 5, 6:00 AM

Two more Maryland senators have said they will support a bill to abolish capital punishment, giving the measure backed by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) more than enough expected votes to clear the chamber.

Sen. John C. Astle (D-Anne Arundel) said in an interview with The Post on Monday that he plans to vote in favor of repealing Maryland’s death penalty. And Sen. Ronald N. Young (D-Frederick) also plans to vote for repeal, The Baltimore Sun reported Monday.

Repeal advocates say they are confident the measure will pass in the House of Delegates if the votes are there in the Senate, where similar legislation has stalled in recent years, with members arguing capital punishment should remain an option for some killers.

Twenty four votes are needed to pass a bill in the Senate. O’Malley’s repeal bill has 21 co-sponsors, meaning three additional votes are needed to reach a majority in the heavily Democratic chamber.

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Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/astle-young-voice-support-for-repealing-marylands-death-penalty/2013/02/04/0fc778cc-6f18-11e2-aa58-243de81040ba_story.html?wpisrc=nl_headlines

[Judi Lynn]

1. Good news. The sooner, the better Maryland, and the country will be. n/t