LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A ballot campaign to preserve Nebraska's death penalty will be led by an Omaha state lawmaker and the state treasurer.
Sen. Beau McCoy and State Treasurer Don Stenberg will serve as co-chairs of Nebraskans for the Death Penalty.
The group formed less than a week after lawmakers voted to override Gov. Pete Ricketts' veto and abolish the death penalty, which hasn't been carried out in Nebraska since 1997. Ricketts endorsed the campaign on Tuesday.
The group filed for a referendum Monday and expects to have petitions available as early as Friday. Organizers launched a website, www.NebraskansfortheDeathPenalty.com .
The repeal law goes into effect three months after the session ends. Supporters have until late August to submit enough signatures for a referendum, which would take place in November 2016.
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