Jeana (DP)
Former Member
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/040505dntexparole.1aaea0548.html
AUSTIN - The Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have given juries the power to sentence capital murderers to life in prison without parole.
Texas juries have only two options after reaching a guilty verdict in capital murder cases: execution by lethal injection or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
The bill by Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, had the support of the majority of the senators, but failed to garner the two-thirds support required by Senate rules to bring it up for debate. By a 19-12 decision, the bill failed by two votes. All 12 "no" votes were cast by Republicans.
Lucio has pushed for the third option for several years. The bill failed in 2003 when it was one vote short.
After the bill failed again Tuesday, Lucio was conferring with several lawmakers in an attempt to resurrect it.
AUSTIN - The Senate on Tuesday rejected a bill that would have given juries the power to sentence capital murderers to life in prison without parole.
Texas juries have only two options after reaching a guilty verdict in capital murder cases: execution by lethal injection or life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.
The bill by Sen. Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville, had the support of the majority of the senators, but failed to garner the two-thirds support required by Senate rules to bring it up for debate. By a 19-12 decision, the bill failed by two votes. All 12 "no" votes were cast by Republicans.
Lucio has pushed for the third option for several years. The bill failed in 2003 when it was one vote short.
After the bill failed again Tuesday, Lucio was conferring with several lawmakers in an attempt to resurrect it.