Senators introduce a bill to reveal the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska
As Nebraska continues to face tough economic times, our state legislators are looking to eliminate wasteful and unnecessary spending wherever possible. Our representatives in Lincoln face some very difficult decisions, and it is likely that we will see even deeper budget cuts this year. We are pleased to see that Senators Brenda Council, Brad Ashford, Danielle Conrad, and Steve Lathrop have again brought attention to the death penalty as one of the state's most expensive and inefficient programs. LB1105 would "require an audit comparing the costs of administering death penalty and non-death-penalty sentences resulting from murder in the first degree convictions." You can read the bill in its entirety here.
As we have seen in state after state, the death penalty costs 2, 5, 10, and even 16 times as much as having a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. It is time for Nebraskans to know the true cost of the death penalty!
When Senator Council first brought this issue to the Legislature as an amendment to LB306, there were many death penalty supporters who said that it does not matter how much the death penalty costs; however, as we continue to face difficult budget decisions, it is irresponsible of our Legislature to prevent an investigation into the costs of a system that has proven to be both wasteful and inefficient in state after state. Taxpayers in Nebraska deserve to have a clear picture of how and where our money is being spent, and your Senator needs to hear from you again on this issue.
Please take a minute today to contact your State Senator and ask him/her to support LB1105 to shine a light on the costs of the death penalty in Nebraska! For more information on how to contact your Senator please visit www.nadp.net.