(Updates x 2) New Mexico Senate Passes Death Penalty Repeal 24-18

Update 2: Gov. Bill Richardson releases a statement about passage of the bill today. He's asking for your imput as he makes his decision on whether to sign the bill this weekend. Call 505-476-2225 and leave a message.
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Update 1: Peter Simonson, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Mexico, just released this statement about the Senate's passage of the death penalty repeal, and urged Gov. Richardson to sign the bill.
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Excellent news. After turning back three amendments by a vote of 20-22, 19-21 and 19-23 (the last one from the Floor), as well as engaging in about three hours of debate, the New Mexico Senate passed HB 285, Abolish the Death Penalty, by a vote of 24-18.

If passed, the amendments would have necessitated a conference committee meeting with the House if the bill -- rather than the bill going directly to Gov. Bill Richardson upon approval. At this late date in the Legislative Session, which ends at Noon on March 21, it might have meant the bill would never make it to the guv's desk.

All Republicans voted against the bill. Three Democrats also voted NO on the HB 285: Sen. Richard Martinez (Espanola), Sen. Tim Jennings (Roswell), Sen. John Arthur Smith (Deming). The rest of the Democrats voted for the bill.

HB 285 is sponsored by Rep. Gail Chasey, who introduced and fought hard for similar bills in previous years. This year's bill passed the New Mexico House by a margin of 40-28. The measure would replace the death penalty in New Mexico with life in prison without any possibility of parole. Those currently on death row in the state would not be affected. Fourteen states and the District of Columbia currently have no death penalty.

Congratulations to Rep. Gail Chasey, Peter Simonson of the ACLU of New Mexico and Viki Elkey of the New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty, as well as all the other supporters of repeal who have worked on this effort for more than twelve years.

There is no guarantee that Gov. Richardson will sign the bill. He has threatened to veto any death penalty repeal that made it to his desk in past Sessions. This year, however, he has said he will carefully reconsider his views. We shall see.

Take Action: Supporters are urged to contact Gov. Richardson and ask him to sign SB 285 repealing the death penalty. He's expected to make a decision over the next few days.