lizmoran's blog

UPDATE from the Capitol:

This morning, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on SB3539 to repeal the death penalty. Our supporters, including exonerees, murder victim family members and law enforcement, are prepared to testify about the painful impact a capital trial and appeals have the families of murder victims, the cost of maintaining a broken system, the work of the study commissions to fix a broken system, and the risk of executing an innocent person. Once it passes the committee, it can head to the Senate floor for a full vote.

Time is running out on the lame-duck session. Even if you already have, call your senator today at the Capitol switchboard at 217-782-2000 and ask for them by name. You can leave this message with staff: "I'm a constituent and I urge you to support SB3539."

To find your Senator or their direct line, click on this link and enter your address here: http://www.elections.il.gov/DistrictLocator/DistrictOfficialSearchByAddr...

SB 3539 to repeal Illinois' death penalty passed the House Judiciary II Committee on Tuesday but didn't make it to the floor of the House before the end of the fall Veto Session. Never fear! It's alive and well - and headed to the House floor - in January.

Get the full run down of what happened and, more importantly, what we will and can do to pass repeal in January.

Join us for our bi-monthly conference call on Monday night 12/6 at 7pm. Participants can listen in right from the comfort of home.

OPEN TO ALL!

Monday, 12/6 7pm
Anyone can call: 218-936-7979 (Code: 663 294)

Veto Session was a whirlwind roller coaster for our campaign to pass SB 3539 to repeal Illinois' death penalty. No matter where you live in Illinois, there was coverage of the action. Here's a wrapup of the media from this week, with newest coverage first:

Bloomington Pantagraph -- http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/article_edd...

Chicagoist -- http://chicagoist.com/2010/12/01/measure_to_abolish_death_penalty_pa.php

LaSalle News-Tribune -- http://www.newstrib.com/articles/news/local/default.asp?article=24609&an...

Galesburg Register-Mail -- http://www.galesburg.com/news/x1384148708/Removal-of-death-penalty-would...

If you're looking for last minute details and logistics for Tuesday's Rally and Lobby Day: Voila! Here it is:

SCHEDULE:
*Please note there have been changes to the schedule*

11am: Lobby Training at the Howlett Building Hall of Flags

11:30 Rally at the Lincoln Statue on 2nd St in front of the Capitol

12:00 Lobbying legislators in groups

1:30 Buses depart

BUS:
Two buses are departing from the Chicagoland area:

Chicago-Loop departs at 6:30am from ICADP office at 332 S. Michigan Ave (Michigan & VanBuren)

West suburban Glen Ellyn bus departs at 6:30am from Walmart at Rt. 53 & Butterfield Rd.

Joliet bus stops will arrive at 7:30am at the Metra Park and Ride at Rt. 52 exit on I-55.

Bloomington bus stops will arrive at 8:30am at the Travel Centers of America gas station on exit 160 (IL-9/US-150) off I-55.

Email liz@icadp.org for those locations and to RSVP. (We will post those asap).

Buses will depart Springfield at 1:30pm for the return trip with boxed lunches.

PARKING:
If you are making your own way to the Capitol, your best bet for parking is to check the Visitor's Center parking lot on the west side of the Capitol at Spring St & College Ave. You can also find metered parking surrounding the Capitol.

For Questions:
Call ICADP organizer Liz Moran at (217) 416-8696 for any questions, for additional information or other issues on or before Lobby Day.

This week, we want to share with you some talking points that you can use when speaking to people about why it's time for Illinois to repeal the death penalty.

The time for repeal is now. It’s become clear in 10 years of a moratorium that the death penalty system is still broken and it cannot be fixed. The death penalty is a public policy that risks executing the innocent, fails to meet the needs of murder victims’ families, and costs millions of dollars more than alternatives.

We Make Mistakes. There have been 20 men exonerated from Illinois’ death row after evidence of their innocence emerged. This is the second highest exoneration rate in the nation. It is clear we cannot guarantee that our death penalty system will not make a fatal mistake and take an innocent life.

Too Expensive. Since its creation in 1999, we’ve spent well over $100 million dollars on the Capital Litigation Trust Fund. We can’t afford to spend millions on the death penalty when other vital services are being cut.

Ignores the Needs of Murder Victims’ Families. While victims’ services in Illinois are underfunded, which hurts all murder victims, we spend millions of dollars on a death penalty system that affects less than 1% of murders. Those victims’ families that have capital cases endure excessively long and publicized trials then are forced to wait for years and years for an execution – if one comes at all.

Doesn’t Stop Crime! In a 2009 National survey, police chiefs ranked the death penalty dead last in terms of effective tools to prevent violent crime. Study after study shows the death penalty does not deter crime. If we’re serious about stopping crime, we should invest in tools that work – the death penalty doesn’t.

For more detailed reasons it's time to Repeal the Death Penalty, visit our page: http://www.icadp.org/content/why-repeal-death-penalty