"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in
rising up every time we fail." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
The recent disappointment with LB 36 reminds us that perseverance is necessary. The lethal injection bill moved forward to the next round of debate with such large numbers in support that it appears that the Nebraska legislature is going to pass the bill into law this session.
This does not mean our work is over--not right now, and not for the long haul.
Right now, we still need you to do a small thing. We need you to thank the Senators who stood against the injustice of LB 36. If your Senator voted in favor of this flawed and barbaric bill, please email, write or call your Senator to express your disappointment. See the bottom of this email for a breakdown of which Senators need to be thanked and which need to hear that you feel let down.
And down the road, we will need you to do a big thing. We will need you to help us, because we're not giving up. We will work through the summer and fall to conduct more public education forums across the state, bringing more and more voters together to oppose the death penalty. When the legislature starts up in January 2010, we'll be right back there pushing for abolition again. So the big thing we are asking you to do is stay with us, despite this set back. We know we're on the side of history--after all, just in the last year, New Mexico abolished the death penalty and many other states teeter on the brink of restoring justice too.
NADP will continue to rise up-every time-with your help, until the battle is won.
Thank you all for keeping this movement moving forward!
With great hope,
Amy Miller, Board Chair
Vote Counts on Nebraska Death Penalty Bills
Below you will find a break down of how the states 49 Senators voted on the lethal injection bill and Senator Council's amendment to repeal the death penalty and replace it with life in prison without the possibility of parole. We ask that you call or email a note or appreciation to the Senators who stood with us, even if they are not from your district. So please thank the Senators who voted NO on LB 36 and those who voted YES on AM1452. Additionally, if you Senator supported lethal injection please contact him or her and let them know that you oppose the direction our state is taking.
Bill to enact lethal injection- LB 36
Voting yes (34): Adams, Ashford, Campbell, Carlson, Christensen, Cornett, Fischer, Flood, Friend, Fulton, Gay, Giese, Gloor, Hadley, Hansen, Harms, Heidemann, Janssen, Karpisek, Lautenbaugh, Louden, McCoy, Nelson, Pahls, Pankonin, Pirsch, Price, Rogert, Schilz, Stuthman, Sullivan, Utter, White, Wightman
Voting no (7): Coash, Cook, Council, Dierks, Haar, Howard, Nantkes
Present not voting (6): Avery, Lathrop, McGill, Mello, Nordquist, Wallman
Absent (2): Dubas, Langemeier
Amendment that would have repealed the death penalty - AM1452
Voting yes (13): Ashford, Avery, Coash, Cook, Council, Dierks, Haar, Lathrop, McGill, Mello, Nantkes, Nordquist, Rogert
Voting no (33): Adams, Campbell, Carlson, Christensen, Cornett, Fischer, Flood, Friend, Fulton, Gay, Giese, Gloor, Hadley, Hansen, Harms, Heidemann, Howard, Janssen, Karpisek, Lautenbaugh, Louden, McCoy, Nelson, Pahls, Pankonin, Pirsch, Price, Schilz, Stuthman, Sullivan, Utter, White, Wightman
Present not voting (1): Wallman
Absent (2): Dubas, Langemeier
