LINCOLN ÔÇö Cheers erupted and tears fell Wednesday as the Nebraska Legislature took the historic step of repealing the death penalty with a politically high-stakes override of the governorÔÇÖs veto.
Even as repeal supporters exchanged handshakes and hugs in the legislative chamber, a key defender of capital punishment vowed to keep the broader debate alive. Sen. Beau McCoy of Omaha announced plans to pursue a petition drive to put reinstatement of the death penalty on the ballot.
In the most suspenseful decision to play out in NebraskaÔÇÖs one-house Legislature in years, lawmakers voted 30-19 to override Gov. Pete RickettsÔÇÖ veto of Legislative Bill 268. Without a vote to spare, the override replaced lethal injection with life in prison.
Oh, and incidentally, Senator Ernie Chambers, who introduced the bill, is an atheist!