Senate Supports Death Penalty

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

New York's senate has approved death penalty legislation, but the vote mainly followed party lines - most Republicans voted yes and most Democrats voted no.

REPORTER: Republicans say the bill was spurred after 10 deaths of police officers, 5 of which occurred since January. Democrats opposed to the bill cited racial inequality, as well as recent DNA evidence that proved some condemned to be innocent. Governor Spitzer, who will support the death penalty for cop killers, says he will not press Assembly Democrats on this issue. That didn't stop Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno from pressing the governor at a Leaders Meeting earlier this week.

BRUNO: Governor, I guess your leadership has help get us here, get us a death penalty for cop killers. Ten of them have been killed in the last year and we need you to help get the Assembly there.

REPORTER: Governor Spitzer says he'll call another Leaders Meeting next week and hopes to discuss expanding New York’s DNA database.

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