Is Pat Quinn trying to pull a “George Ryan”? The Democrat is considering abolishing Illinois death penalty. Republicans are prepared to stop him.
Governor Quinn is nearing a decision on the controversial bill that would abolish the death penalty in Illinois. Quinn said Wednesday that he is making the decision deliberately and carefully. When asked who has lobbied him on the bill, he said simply, “Everyone.”
Quinn said he has spoken with prosecutors, with victims’ rights groups, with the families of the murdered and with prison reform groups. Although he did not tip his hand, Quinn referred to the measure as “a law” and “a major step in Illinois.”
In the past, Quinn has voiced support for efforts to retain the death penalty, with precautions added to try to minimize the chance that the innocent would be executed. Disgraced former governor Republican George Ryan, in an effort to resurrect his discredited administration, toyed with abolishing the death penalty. It did little to help him.
Two Republicans have introduced bills that would reinstate and further reform the death penalty if Quinn signs a bill abolishing it.
House Bill 1520, sponsored by Rep. Dennis Reboletti, R-Elmhurst, would ask voters at the November 2
012 election whether or not they want Illinois to have capital punishment. The referendum would be advisory.
House Bill 1519, also sponsored by Reboletti, would reduce the number of aggravating factors for which the death penalty can be imposed. And Senate Bill 2277, sponsored by state Sen. Kirk Dillard, R-Hinsdale, creates a panel that would have to pre-approve cases in which prosecutors seek the death penalty.
The two House bills would go into effect upon passage only if Quinn signs the death-penalty abolition bill sitting on his desk. The governor has said he is weighing the merits of capital punishment and trying to hear from opponents and supporters before he makes up his mind.
Dillard criticized the legislature for passing the death penalty repeal during the lame-duck session in January, before the current members of the legislature were sworn in.
The measure passed the legislature with the minimum number of votes necessary and was sent to Quinn’s desk in the waning hours of the old legislature last month.
State law requires action within 60 days of the time he receives a bill. Quinn said he expects to announce the decision in the next couple of weeks.
“In the Senate, we never had a thorough discussion of the death penalty,” Dillard said at a Statehouse news conference last Tuesday. “My constituents believe that the death penalty should remain intact for the so-called worst-of-the-worst.”
The two House bills would go into effect upon passage only if Quinn signs the death-penalty abolition bill sitting on his desk.
HB1519
Would allow prosecutors to seek the death penalty only if:
* The murder victim was a witness to a crime, or a judge, juror, prosecutor or defense attorney
* The murder victim was tortured
* The murder victim was a police officer
* The murder victim was a correctional officer
* The defendant murdered more than one person
SB2277
Would create a State Death Penalty Review Committee. The committee would consist of the attorney general or his or her designee, the Cook County state’s attorney, the president of the State’s Attorney’s Association and another state’s attorney and a retired judge appointed by the governor. An alternate member would be appointed by the governor in case of ties. The committee would approve or disapprove of all requests by prosecutors to seek the death penalty in first-degree murder cases.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.