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For Immediate Release
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Nebraska Legislature Advances Death Penalty Repeal Bill

WASHINGTON

Earlier today, by a vote of 30-16, Nebraska lawmakers voted to pass LB268. This is the second vote for the bill that would abolish the death penalty in the state. There is one more round of required voting on the bill before it goes to Governor Pete Rickett's desk for signature. The 30-16 vote is currently enough to overcome a veto, by Governor if necessary.

The Huffington Post reports:

The final vote is largely considered a formality, and if it stands, the legislature will have a veto-proof majority. Republican Gov. Pete Ricketts -- who has already vowed to repeal the bill if it passes his desk -- could lobby to get lawmakers to change their vote.

But the bill likely won't even need the governor's approval, says Stacy Anderson, executive director of Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. She told The Huffington Post immediately after the vote that Friday's count is expected to hold.

"I think the senators have made up their minds," Anderson said. "They've studied the issue and they're ready to get this bill through."

Be sure to follow Nebraskans for Alternatives to the Death Penalty for additional local developments on the repeal bill.

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) was founded in 1976 in response to the Supreme Court decision in Gregg v. Georgia which permitted executions to resume in the United States. Our mission: abolish the death penalty in the U.S. and support efforts to abolish the death penalty world wide.