Moratorium May Be a Victim of Co-Speaker Deal

Summary

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In the bargain, though, Democratic Co-Speaker Jim Black agreed not to push any "controversial" bills to the floor over Morgan's objection, and Morgan objects to the moratorium bill. So the moratorium (Senate Bill 972) remains in limbo, as the 2004-05 session winds down, despite having passed the Senate last year by a 29-21 vote. Also stuck: the gay-bashing "Defense of Marriage Amendment" to the state constitution, a House bill with 67 co-sponsors, mostly Republicans, that Democrats don't really want to vote on. That's part of the deal too.

Neal acknowledges the widespread misperception that it is controversial, they don't have the votes, and consequently there's no chance of getting Morgan-Black to relent. "Everybody's saying that, but we're still here, and we have a lot of momentum on our side-a lot of public support," he says. "Anything can still happen."

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Moratorium May Be a Victim of Co-Speaker Deal

The death penalty moratorium looks to be doomed in the General Assembly, a victim of the co-speakers deal in the House. The shared-power arr...

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