LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A proposal to abolish the death penalty in Nebraska is dead for the year.
Supporters on Tuesday failed to muster the 33 votes needed to force an end to debate in the Legislature. The vote was 28-21 to cut off a filibuster.
The failure to reach a vote on the bill pushes it to the bottom of the Legislature's agenda.
The measure was introduced by longtime Sen. Ernie Chambers, who has fought for nearly four decades to end capital punishment. Chambers says he will introduce a repeal measure again next year.
Nebraska has 11 men on death row. The last inmate executed in Nebraska was Robert E. Williams, who was electrocuted in 1997.
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The bill is LB543
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